Steel plant begins work

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A new local company has begun production at a North Cedar Street steel processing plant that was idle about six months.
Ceda Mills bought the plant from New Castle Rolling Mills, which had closed it. The plant had operated under other names but was originally known as National Steel Strip Finishing Plant. Ceda Mills employs 15 but intends to have 70 employees in three years.
Privately owned: It is a privately owned company with the majority of stock held by longtime steel executive Chet Duffy, a New Castle native who now lives in Harmony. He is being assisted by William Simon and Sam Carbone, who had been managers with the former owners.
Ceda Mills took possession of the plant in October under an occupancy-purchase agreement and completed the deal last week.
What it does: The company processes steel for a variety of uses, including appliances and automotive parts. It has restarted this equipment: seven bell annealing furnaces, three reversing mills, a temper-skin mill, two slitting lines and a packaging line.
The company said it soon will begin work on revamping its 38-inch mill so it can process steel with even higher precision. Other equipment also is scheduled to be upgraded.