![Republic Steel's Lorain plant has been idle since 2016 [Annie Wu / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/684889d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2250+0+0/resize/840x630!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F1%2F23%2FRepublic%20Steel%20Lorain%20%28wu%29%20.jpg)
The long idled Republic Steel mill in Lorain appears ready to rumble back to life this year.
The 120-year-old steel company has been saying it would restart the Lorain mill since June. It was supposed to happen in September and then December, but imported steel continued to take some market share.
Now company officials say they have run some production trials and expect sufficient orders to start up this spring.
In a written statement, company spokesman Ted Thielens says that “over 60 employees have been hired and completed training, and the mill has undergone a complete refurbishment.” It’s been cold for three years.
The company attributes the new demand to the so-called “ 232 Tariffs” announced last March by President Trump that places 25 percent tariffs on imported steel, arguing that domestic production is important to national security.
60 workers expect to be back through the turnstiles in the 2nd quarter. [Annie Wu / ideastream]
The nine and 10 inch rolling mill at Lorain has a capacity to produce 35,000 tons per month of carbon and alloy grade steel.
Republic is headquartered in Canton with 850 employees in Canton, Massillon, Lorain, Solon, and Lackawanna, New York.