ArcelorMittal says it is set to resume an expansion project at ArcelorMittal Vega, a flat steel cold rolling, pickling and galvanizing unit located in São Francisco do Sul (in the state of Santa Catarina) in Brazil.

The ArcelorMittal Brazil business unit of the Luxembourg-based steelmaker says the project involves the construction of a new continuous annealing line and a third galvanization line for the production of cold-rolled and galvanized products. The capacity of the unit is set to increase by 700,000 metric tons to a total of 2.1 million metric tons per year. The increased capacity is expected to be ready in 2021.

The firm says the investment “is expected to sustain ArcelorMittal’s growth strategy in Brazil and Latin America.”

“At the outset of the [financial] crisis, automakers were practically operating to serve the Brazilian and Argentinian markets only,” says Benjamin Baptista Filho, president of ArcelorMittal Brazil and CEO of ArcelorMittal Flat Carbon South America. “The crisis forced automakers to develop alternative markets. We expect the automotive industry to [now] have a substantial increase in the utilization rate.”

Vega’s expansion project has been on hold since 2011 because of the 2008-2009 financial crisis, followed by a Brazilian economic recession and a reduction in Brazil’s market for vehicles. As of 2018, says Baptista Filho, “We currently have a market to sell Vega’s products above the existing capacity. We could be selling more.”

Holland, Michigan-based Padnos has announced “acquiring a significant interest” in Roseville, Michigan-based GLR Advanced Recycling, with a news release announcing the move describing it as a strategic partnership. The newly combined partner companies will have 23 locations in Michigan and one in Indiana.

“Two family-owned recycling businesses, with nearly two centuries of combined years in operation, have joined forces to expand capabilities and grow throughout Michigan,” states the news release announcing the merger.

Founded in in 1905 by Louis Padnos, Padnos operates from 18 locations in Michigan and Indiana.

GLR was founded in the Detroit area by Henry Rosen in 1927. The company began in the paper and cardboard recycling business and has expanded in to plastic, electronics, metal and vehicle recycling, with an emphasis on the automotive and ferrous and nonferrous markets. GLR operates six facilities in Michigan.

“This is the next step in the evolution of two great family businesses,” says Jonathan Padnos, president of that family company. “There are many parallels between our companies, making this a natural fit, and it is an honor to partner with Michael Bassirpour and the entire GLR team. As we build on the combined experience the Rosen and Padnos families have in the industry, we look forward to continued growth and to serving customers in the Great Lakes region.”

GLR President Michael Bassirpour comments, “GLR has been expanding its capabilities in recent years, and a strategic partnership with Padnos fits perfectly within our vision and long-term strategic plan. We see a lot of synergies between the two companies and, geographically, a partnership allows us to serve more customers throughout the state and grow to neighboring markets.”

Ben Irwin, chief financial officer of Padnos,adds, “This partnership between Padnos and GLR creates a strategic alignment that enables both companies to further our economies of scale and increase our processing capabilities. Combined, we look forward to the growth opportunities in front of us.”

Each of the two entities will continue to operate under their current names, according to the announcement.

Following responses to its inquiry into the acquisition of London-based Metal & Waste Recycling (MWR) by EMR Ltd., the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ordered EMR to sell five MWR facilities. The CMA cited concerns that the consolidation of the two companies could result in customers having fewer available suppliers in the southeastern part of England. 

The CMA inquiry group’s final report on its investigation said the merger would harm the choices available to suppliers (such as car dismantlers) that supply shredder feed in England’s southeast, and others such as car manufacturers that sell large volumes of factory-generated scrap metal through contracts in the West Midlands and the northeast regions of England.

The CMA also found the merger, as proposed, may have led “to a worse deal” for customers in the U.K. that purchase new steel.

The CMA is requiring that EMR sell five of the sites it bought from MWR—three in the West Midlands, one in northeast England and one in southeast England. EMR operates 65 sites overall in the U.K. while MWR lists 13 locations on its website.

In other areas of the business, including the buying and selling of general scrap metal, the CMA did not find the merger would substantially weaken competition.

CMA inquiry chair Lesley Ainsworth states, “Having an efficient and competitive metal recycling industry is good for the environment and is important for both suppliers and waste metal customers, including those in the automotive and steel manufacturing industries.”

Adds Ainsworth, “Over the course of our inquiry we surveyed, spoke to or received comments from over 850 suppliers and customers. The evidence shows that EMR’s purchase of MWR is likely to harm competition in a number of areas and there is a material risk that prices for some suppliers and customers could worsen.”

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas, Norcross, Georgia, has announced the expansion of its North American authorized dealer network with the addition of Farm Depot Ltd. Farm Depot is a full line agricultural equipment dealer with three locations across the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, in Schoolcraft, Ionia and Caro. The owners of Farm Depot, Mark and Mike Laethem, are the third generation of a family that has been dedicated to the service of the agricultural industry. Hyundai says Farm Depot will be a valued addition to its north central territory.

With the addition of this new dealership, Hyundai’s North American network now includes more than 70 dealerships operating in more than 150 locations, offering sales, service and parts for the full line of Hyundai excavators, wheel loaders, compaction rollers and other construction equipment.

“With three locations and their vast knowledge of key applications for Hyundai products, such as agriculture and dairy and their service capabilities, Farm Depot will be a reliable equipment source for Hyundai customers throughout their Michigan footprint,” Ed Harseim, Hyundai district manager for its north central territory, says.

Hyundai says its sales, service and parts teams deliver regular product and service training to ensure dealer partners can provide top-caliber support to meet the growing business needs of Hyundai Construction Equipment customers.