Plant takes receipt of steel delivery ahead of production restarting
The first delivery of steel for almost 12 months has arrived at a steel mill which was mothballed last year, ahead of production restarting next month.
The first delivery of steel for almost 12 months has arrived at a steel mill which was mothballed last year, ahead of production restarting next month.
Indian conglomerate Tata ceased production at its Dalzell steel plate mill in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, and the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, in 2015 with the loss of 270 jobs.
The plants were bought by metals firm Liberty House earlier this year and the company plans to start production at Dalzell in September.
Liberty House said about 60 staff are working to help reopen the mill, with 40 more expected to join before steel plate production resumes. About 70% of the staff are former workers at the plant.
The group said 1,500 tonnes of slab from the British Steel plant at Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, has arrived by train at the Motherwell site.
Jon Bolton, chief executive of Liberty Steel UK plate division, said: "This is a significant milestone for the plates business in Scotland, but also positive news for the UK steel sector as steel once again is manufactured in British Steel's Scunthorpe site to be rolled in Scotland.
"It is pleasing to watch the plant gradually coming back to life as more people arrive on site and particularly pleasing to welcome young apprentices to the team."
The factory has awarded about 20 new supply contracts for business and engineering services to firms in the Motherwell area.
Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of the Liberty House Group, said the delivery was the beginning of the fulfilment of a promise to the local community.
He said: "We said we would revive this historic steelworks and that is exactly what we are doing."
Plate steel from the plant is expected to be used by a wide variety of industries including ship-building, heavy vehicle manufacture, construction and wind power generation.