Ivaco Rolling Mills is located in L’Orignal, Ontario, on the banks of the Ottawa River about half way between Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario. It is owned by Ivaco Inc., a Canadian corporation . Ivaco built the rod mill in 1970 – 1971 as a source of wire rod to supply its extensive wire, nail, and bolt making operations. Until that time, the company was entirely dependent on outside sources for its rod requirements. Over the years, Ivaco has evolved into a multinational corporation with operations in Canada and the United States producing steel, fabricated steel products, and other diversified fabricated products.

IRM is the largest employer in the region with more than 600 employees.

1999

• Phase II of upgrade program is completed.
• Launched the final phase in January with installation of new Teksium reducing/sizing mill.
• New billet reheat furnace, which went into operation early in 1999, exceeds its production targets before the end of the year.
• Installation of a new melting furnace shell reduces maintenance outages; new filter reactors on the furnace reduce electrode consumption; and better operating procedures improve scrap utilization.
• IRM makes important inroads in the tire cord market during 1999. Tire cord is one of the most difficult wire products to manufacture and a true test of a rod mill’s ability to produce consistently high quality rod.

1998

• Phase II upgrade project is nears completion.
• A new computerized , energy efficient walking beam billet reheat furnace is installed.
• A single strand, four stand, high speed housingless breakdown mill is installed. Space is available for a fifth stand to handle up to 180mm billets.
• A computerized control system is installed for the water boxes to minimize the length of uncooled ends and maximize rod temperature control and uniformity.
• Installation of new automatic coil compactor is completed.
• A full re-certification audit is passed successfully for ISO 9002-94 certification.
• Ivaco Steel Processing in Tonawanda, New York , is converted to 100% dedicated plants for further processing of wire rod.

1997

• Phase I of the comprehensive rod mill upgrade project at IRM is completed. This includes the replacement of the prefinishing section of the rolling mill, the overall mill automation system, the StelmorŪ cooling lines and the finished coil handling equipment.
• The upgrade is accomplished in only three weeks of plant outage.
• Our chemistry laboratory meets the requirements of the Fasteners Quality Act (FQA), and was granted  Accreditation for test methods in Fasteners and Metals under the National Voluntary Accreditation Program (NVLAP), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
• Steelmaking has delivered record tonnage again in 1997, for the fourth consecutive year.

• IRM’s quality system is registered to the ISO 9002-94 standard. IRM employees succeed with this registration on the first attempt - a remarkable achievement. This program not only improves IRM’s process and quality, but ensures that IRM remains competitive in the steel industry.
• IRM hosts the Household Hazardous Waste Collection as a service to members of the community.
• A new hydraulic furnace, which improves both productivity and quality, is installed.
• Consistent with its commitment to the protection of the environment, IRM installs a completely new primary fume system for the new electric arc furnace at a cost of over one million dollars.

• In response to community concerns, IRM completes a beautification project along the Bay Road.
• IRM trains a number of employees in First Aid and Resuscitation techniques creating the Emergency Response Team. This team has contributed significantly to workplace safety.

• IRM installs the ladle tapping turret which reduces tapping emissions by 60%.

• IRM begins purchasing all steel cans collected in local blue box programs to be recycled.
• With its continuing dedication to improving environmental performance, IRM commissions a new water filtration system. The Ministry of Environment and Energy designates this system as the Best Available Technology economically achievable  for Ontario mini-mills.
• IRM improves the quality of the steel it produces considerably with the accreditation of the in-house chemistry laboratory by the Standards Council of Canada and with the installation of the electromagnetic stirring coils on the four-strand continuous caster in 1994.

• IRM begins shipping all dust generated by the electric arc furnace off-site for disposal and/or recycling.
• There is a transition away from the use of two electric furnaces (working either simultaneously or on a staggered schedule) to the use of one furnace working around the clock. The improvement in productivity and energy savings is immediate.

1991

• The Canadian Electrical Association awards IRM the prestigious Energy Efficiency Industrial Award for its energy conservation efforts.

• IRM implements new employee training programs, including a task force to monitor and improve safe working practices. This is consistent with IRM’s continued effort to develop a world-class facility in the area of safety.
• IRM installs the ORBIS gauge. This device monitors rod profile to ensure that the rods meet stringent size and profile tolerances. Again, IRM is the first rod mill in North America with this technology.

1988

• The new ladle metallurgy furnace allows for the production of even higher quality steel grades.

1986

• The installation of the OLEC in 1986 improves on-line testing by identifying surface defects of the wire rod. At this time, IRM is the only rod mill in North America with this advanced technology.

1985

• The installation of a high speed spectrometer helps to keep L’Orignal’s steelmaking facility at the leading edge of the productivity and quality trend.

1984

• The installation of additional 2,500 HP motors increases production by a further 10%.

1982

• The steel plant sets a world record with 6 days, 17 hours, and 15 minutes of uninterrupted continuous billet casting.

1981

• A prefinishing mill improves the mill’s speed and increases production by 50%.

• A new automated billet reheat furnace is installed. This furnace accepts billets up to 14 feet longer than before.

• The L’Orignal plant is expanded to include a steel plant to supply the adjacent rolling mill.
• With the installation of the no-twist mill, the mill’s speed almost triples. The new steelmaking facility casts its first heat. In its first year, the new mill produces 80,000 tons.

• Ivaco Inc. constructs a rolling mill in L’Orignal, Ontario to service its other facilities.
• The first steel billet is rolled and annual production is 30,000 tons.