PRO-TEC Coating Company: A Legacy of Innovation and Growth
Since its establishment in 1990, PRO-TEC Coating Company has been at the forefront of steel manufacturing. From the groundbreaking launch of its state-of-the-art production lines to the development of advanced steel technologies, PRO-TEC has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the automotive industry. Explore our journey through key milestones and learn how we've shaped the future of steel manufacturing.
Timeline:
- PRO-TEC Coating Company was established as a joint venture in 1990 by two global leaders in steel technology and production – United States Steel Corporation and Kobe Steel, Ltd., of Japan.
- The plant is located on a 1,200-acre site near Leipsic, Ohio, an area specifically selected for its proximity to automotive customers and steelmaking facilities – all linked by efficient access to truck and rail transportation.
- The parent companies designed the original production facility featuring a 600,000-ton-per-year capacity, state-of-the-art, hot-dip continuous galvanizing/galvannealing line (now called CGL1). The line debuted as one of the largest, most advanced in the world when it began operation in 1993.
- Increased demand for high-quality galvanized steel spurred a second galvanizing line (CGL2) that began operating in 1998. The two virtually identical lines brought the plant’s total production capability to over 1.1 million tons annually.
- Anticipating the demands of the upcoming CAFE standards, U. S. Steel and Kobe Steel recognized automakers will need materials that reduce vehicle mass while improving safety. The companies invested in PRO-TEC’s Continuous Annealing Line (CAL) launched in 2013.
- To meet the demands for GEN3 steel while also providing the ability to make all other hot-dip products, PRO-TEC’s CGL3, launched in 2020, uses the world’s most advanced heat-treating design.