Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel
Encyclopedia
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel was a steel manufacturer based in Wheeling, West Virginia
, which is located at the edge of the Pittsburgh
metropolitan area. In December 1968, Pittsburgh Steel Company was merged into Wheeling Steel Corporation to form the Wheeling-Pitt.
The company had six major manufacturing centers in Eastern Ohio
, the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
and Western
Pennsylvania
. Due to the downfall of the American steel industry, Wheeling-Pittsburgh became a shell of its former self. While Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel
has kept itself profitable by diversifying and moving the majority of its manufacturing plants to the South or overseas (but keeping headquarters and a few plants in Pittsburgh), Wheeling-Pittsburgh had kept all of its main operations in the former Steel Belt. This had led the company to post losses for many years, including in 2000, when they filed for bankruptcy
protection.
While the company operated only a limited number of plants, the corporation was able to turn out a high number of products due to efficiency. Each of Wheeling-Pittsburgh's six plants turnd out a different type of product. Raw steel, which can be manufactured in a variety of thicknesses, and may be rolled or coiled, was created in Steubenville, Ohio
. In Yorkville, Ohio
, the company produced tin products, specifically coatings. Galvanized steel, marketed under the SofTite name, was produced at a Martins Ferry, Ohio
plant. Located near the main headquarters in Wheeling was a plant that specialized in steel for bridge and highway construction. Sheet steel was produced in an Allenport, Pennsylvania
plant, while the company gathered the coke that is required for steel production at a Follansbee, West Virginia
plant.
Esmark, Inc. engaged in a successful proxy takeover battle for Wheeling-Pitt in 2005 and formally took over the steelmaker in November 2007.
In August 2008, Severstal acquired Esmark's Wheeling-Pitt steel holdings for $1.25 billion. RG Steel, a unit of the Renco Group
, acquired Wheeling-Pittsburgh from Severstal in 2011.
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, which is located at the edge of the Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
metropolitan area. In December 1968, Pittsburgh Steel Company was merged into Wheeling Steel Corporation to form the Wheeling-Pitt.
The company had six major manufacturing centers in Eastern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and Western
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Due to the downfall of the American steel industry, Wheeling-Pittsburgh became a shell of its former self. While Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel
U.S. Steel
The United States Steel Corporation , more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an integrated steel producer with major production operations in the United States, Canada, and Central Europe. The company is the world's tenth largest steel producer ranked by sales...
has kept itself profitable by diversifying and moving the majority of its manufacturing plants to the South or overseas (but keeping headquarters and a few plants in Pittsburgh), Wheeling-Pittsburgh had kept all of its main operations in the former Steel Belt. This had led the company to post losses for many years, including in 2000, when they filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
protection.
While the company operated only a limited number of plants, the corporation was able to turn out a high number of products due to efficiency. Each of Wheeling-Pittsburgh's six plants turnd out a different type of product. Raw steel, which can be manufactured in a variety of thicknesses, and may be rolled or coiled, was created in Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. In Yorkville, Ohio
Yorkville, Ohio
Yorkville is a village in Belmont and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,230 at the 2000 census.Yorkville lies within two Metropolitan Statistical Areas – the Belmont County portion is part of the Wheeling metropolitan area, while the Jefferson County portion...
, the company produced tin products, specifically coatings. Galvanized steel, marketed under the SofTite name, was produced at a Martins Ferry, Ohio
Martins Ferry, Ohio
During the census of 2000, there were 7,226 people, 3,202 households, and 1,959 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,345.1 people per square mile . There were 3,680 housing units at an average density of 1,703.6 per square mile...
plant. Located near the main headquarters in Wheeling was a plant that specialized in steel for bridge and highway construction. Sheet steel was produced in an Allenport, Pennsylvania
Allenport, Pennsylvania
Allenport is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, along the Monongahela River. The population was 549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
plant, while the company gathered the coke that is required for steel production at a Follansbee, West Virginia
Follansbee, West Virginia
Follansbee is a city in Brooke County, West Virginia, United States, located along the Ohio River. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville, West Virginia-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
plant.
Esmark, Inc. engaged in a successful proxy takeover battle for Wheeling-Pitt in 2005 and formally took over the steelmaker in November 2007.
In August 2008, Severstal acquired Esmark's Wheeling-Pitt steel holdings for $1.25 billion. RG Steel, a unit of the Renco Group
Renco Group
Renco Group is a New York City-based holding company controlled by Ira Rennert that invests in other companies across a range of industries.-History:...
, acquired Wheeling-Pittsburgh from Severstal in 2011.