Alabama Iron and Steel Council

UAB to start-up metals testing lab in Birmingham, Alabama.  Article from The Birmingham News

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/04/new_metal_lab_at_uab_could_tra.html

Since its creation as a public-private partnership by Governor Bob Riley in 2008, the Alabama Iron and Steel Council has worked to develop strategies to support and grow the state’s vital iron and steel industry.  At its quarterly meeting in September, the Council approved an action plan aimed at promoting public awareness of the industry and the significant achievements of iron and steel companies in two key areas: Environmental and Energy Issues, and Education and Workforce Development.

The focus areas reflect priority issues for all of Alabama’s iron and steel companies, and areas where public awareness often is lacking of the positive stories the industry has to tell.  The public awareness initiative includes formation of two new action groups to develop and implement specific strategies and activities for each of the key focus areas.  The action groups are comprised of representatives from the Council’s various member organizations, including iron and steel producing companies, supplier and customer companies, state government agencies, and the university community.

In the first focus area – involving environmental and energy issues – the iron and steel industry in Alabama has a record of leadership that the action group will focus on.  These include development of benchmark programs and processes that have eliminated or significantly reduced emissions and have substantially cut consumption of non-renewable sources of energy.  Iron and steel producers have a century long tradition of efficient recycling practices – recycling old products, waste materials and energy long before recycling became an environmental buzzword — and the industry remains among the most efficient recyclers anywhere in the world.  Alabama’s iron and steel companies also are involved with a number of conservation, wildlife habitat and wetlands reclamation projects that benefit the state and its citizens.  The Iron & Steel Council will implement plans to highlight these and many other environmental and energy conservation stories.

In addressing the second focus area, the Education and Workforce Development Action Group will identify ways to promote the rewarding career paths offered by Alabama’s iron and steel industry and to work with educators to develop curricula and courses to give employees the skill-sets needed for today’s computer-driven high-tech iron and steel-making processes.  The growing iron and steel industry provides some of the state’s most lucrative career opportunities, with some of the highest pay and best benefits in Alabama’s business community.  The Iron and Steel Council will work closely with education officials at the state and local levels to promote these opportunities among students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors.  The Education and Workforce Development Action Group will recommend ways to dovetail with the existing training initiatives under way in Alabama while focusing on the specific opportunities and needs of the state’s iron and steel companies.

An initial project for both focus areas will involve creation of an industry video that will highlight the positive, high-tech, green record and the career opportunities provided by iron and steel companies.  The video will be used to help tell the industry’s story to educators and students, employees, business leaders, elected officials, the media and others. 

The focus area initiative will be developed over the next year by the two action groups in concert with the existing committee structure of the Iron and Steel Council, including the Council’s Executive Committee, Communications Committee and Governmental affairs Committee.

The Alabama Iron & Steel Council (AISC) slate of officers will serve through June, 2011.

Mike Buckentin, Vice President and General Manager of CMC Steel in Birmingham, was elected council Chairman.

Van Richey, President of American Cast Iron Pipe Co. (ACIPCO), Birmingham, was elected Vice Chairman.

Brian Tomlinson, Controller for SSAB Steel North America, Axis, was re-elected council Treasurer.

Jim Bennett, Commissioner of Labor for the State of Alabama, was re-elected council Secretary.

AISC was formed by the Governor in 2008 as a public-private advisory council to promote the competitiveness and growth of the state’s steel producing and ductile iron pipe industries. Members were appointed from Alabama’s iron and steel companies; selected supplier and customer groups; the Alabama Legislature; Alabama State agencies; and the university community.

Alabama Iron & Steel Council officers gathered at a recent visit to Tannehill Ironworks State Park near Birmingham.  Pictured, left to right:  Brian Tomlinson, SSAB Steel, Council Treasurer;  Van Richey, ACIPCO, Council Vice Chairman; Mike Buckentin, CMC Steel, Council Chairman, and Jim Bennett, Alabama Labor Commissioner, Council Secretary