National Steel Corp., responding to bloated steel stockpiles, slumping steel prices, and weakening U.S. economic conditions, will idle indefinitely a blast furnace at its Great Lakes operations in Ecorse, Mich. National Steel said most of the more than 100 workers affected by the move will be transferred to other operations within its Great Lakes division. The steel maker employs more than 3,200 workers in Ecorse.
The company also will curtail output at its National Steel Pellet unit in Keewatin, Minn., from Oct. 28 to Dec. 9.