$50 million upgrade for Welland’s Valbruna ASW steelmaking plant

A 50 million dollar upgrade at Welland’s Valbruna ASW steelmaking plant is getting some financial help from the provincial government. The specialty steel producer is replacing a furnace and building a new dust control collector.

The plant is Canada’s only manufacturer of specialty steel products, including carbon, alloy, and stainless steel. And the facility is getting a 50 million dollar upgrade.

Valbruna president Tim Clutterbuck says the steelmaker will be replacing this electric arc furnace, with a new one. One that is even more environmentally friendly. He expects that Valbruna will improve their productivity by 25 percent. The company is already building a new massive dust collector, known as a ‘baghouse.’

Minister of economic development Vic Fedeli toured the plant and announced the Ford government’s contribution to the project, a total of 4.4 million dollars. A 3.9 million dollar loan and a 500 thousand dollar grant.

The plant currently employs about 130 people, with this new project the company will also be hiring 15 new employees.

The company is currently recruiting workers now and expects to strike an arc by mid-August.