Eighth Morgan Mill Receives Bekaert Quality Award
WORCESTER, Mass. April 26, 2001

When Belgo Mineira's steel plant in Monlevade, Brazil, received The Bekaert Group's Vincent Gaeremynck Award earlier this year, it marked the eighth time since the Award was first presented in 1988 that the recipient produces rod steel using Morgan technology.

Bekaert presents the Award to one of its wire rod suppliers for consistently producing high-quality steel products and for following the Quality process.

According to Marc Holvoet, vice president and head of Bekaert's Corporate Procurement Department, "The Award is intended to honor the supplier who over the past two years has been most successful in his efforts to develop and maintain a high quality level for all the activities related to the supply of wire rod."

He continued, "To be considered for the award, the core supplier must demonstrate major progress over the past two years, including product quality evolution, development, service, logistics, and customer assistance."

Belgo Mineira, which operates two Morgan rod mills in its Monlevade plant, annually produces more than 1,000,000 tons of steel for wire rod. The output is produced via the blast furnace BOF steel making continuing casting of billets.

The Belgo Mineira mill is now one of the world's highest producers of high caliber steel for tire cord. In 2000, Belgo, which is a member of the ARBED Aceralia Usinor Group, exported 220,000 tons of steel products. For 2001, the company forecasts that its exports will reach 260,000 tons.

Michael Shore, vice president, Engineering, Rolling Mill Technology, for Morgan, said, "We are extremely proud to be associated with Belgo Mineira , as well as with all of their mill upgrades. As this award illustrates, Belgo Mineira follows very quality conscientious oriented program of steel production."

Bekaert, which is Belgo Mineira's largest customer of wire rod for steel cord, exports high-quality wire rod for 24 industry plants in 12 countries. It is the world's leading independent producer and marketer of high-grade steel cord, steel wire, and merchant products, such as fencing.

Morgan is also a supplier to the other seven recipients of the Vincent Gaeremynck Award which include: Corus Scunthorpe Rod Mill, UK (1988); Saarstahl AG, Germany (1989); Ensidesa/Aceralia, Spain (1991); Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan (1992); Georgetown Steel Corporation, USA (1995); Sumitomo Metals Kokura Works, Japan (1997); and North Star Steel, Texas, USA (1999).

Morgan Construction Company, is a designer and producer of high-quality rolling mill products and services for the metal industry worldwide.

Questions or comments can be e-mailed to: sales@morganco.com