Nucor Shatters Strip-Casting Record with the Castrip(R) Process

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The world's first
commercial strip casting facility for plain-carbon steel sheet, utilizing the
Castrip(R) Process, has set a new record for sequence casting. The facility, a
part of Nucor Corporation's (NYSE: NUE) Crawfordsville, Ind., steel plant,
cast 24 ladles of steel, continuously, over a 38-hour period in late December.
Total throughput for the record was 2,467 tons cast, while producing 2,387
tons of prime coils. The previous record of nine ladles and 12 hours of
casting had stood until early December when it was eclipsed with a 14-heat
sequence, followed a week later by an 18-heat sequence. Within 10 days, both
achievements were shattered by this world-record performance.
"This record highlights not only a step change in productivity but also
the remarkable strides made in product quality over the past twelve months"
said Dan DiMicco, Nucor's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are very
proud of the dedication and focus of the Crawfordsville team that continues to
push the envelope of strip casting. Nucor looks forward to the operation of
the second Castrip facility under construction in Blytheville, Ark., which is
scheduled for start-up in late 2008. The synergy created from the expertise of
these two plants has already redefined new standards of quality and
performance for thin strip casting."
In addition to the new sequence length record, the Crawfordsville plant
will enjoy a new high water mark in monthly production and shipments for
December to complement an annual production record in 2007.
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Castrip LLC (www.castrip.com) is a joint venture
of Nucor Corporation, BlueScope Steel Ltd. of Australia and IHI Corporation of
Japan. The Company was formed to market and license intellectual property
related to the twin-roll casting of carbon and stainless steels developed
jointly by its three owners
Castrip is a registered trademark of Castrip LLC.
SOURCE Nucor Corporation

Frank Fisher of Castrip LLC, +1-704-972-1820, Fax: 704-972-1829,
ffisher@castrip.com