AK Steel Honored With Award for Technical Research Paper

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) said
today that it has received the 42nd Outstanding Author Award from the
Galvanizers Association for a technical paper entitled "Furnace Atmosphere
Monitoring at AK Steel Coating Lines." The award was presented at the
association's annual meeting held in October in Louisville, Kentucky. The
2009 award marks the tenth time that the company has received the honor.

The award-winning paper highlights the importance of careful monitoring and
control of thermal and atmospheric profiles within continuous coating line
furnaces that are used in certain steel finishing processes. Hot-dip
galvanizing and aluminizing processes require heating steel in a
highly-controlled, hydrogen-containing atmosphere to prepare the steel for
good adherence of coatings, such as zinc and aluminum. The coatings are
applied for corrosion resistance in a variety of applications, primarily for
automotive bodies, appliance and construction uses.

"AK Steel is proud to receive this important recognition," said James L.
Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel. "The award is a testament
to our talented and innovative research organization, as well as to AK Steel's
long-standing commitment to excellence in steel research."

AK Steel research center associates Dr. Joyce Niedringhaus, Dr. Rob Comstock
and Dr. Luis Garza authored the paper. Also contributing were AK Steel
researchers Jeff Alder, Dr. Jerry Arnold, Sandi Gillum, Jeremy Hansman, Dr.
Glenn Huppi, Bob Kelly and Dr. Farrell Kilbane. Dr. Niedringhaus presented
the paper on behalf of AK Steel at a previous association meeting.

Founded in 1936, the Galvanizers Association is a worldwide organization with
nearly 150 member companies. Members are producers of continuous galvanized
iron, steel sheet and pipe products, along with their suppliers.

About AK Steel
AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels,
primarily for automotive, appliance, construction and electrical power
generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6,000 men and
women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler,
Pennsylvania; Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and its corporate
headquarters in West Chester, Ohio. Additional information about AK Steel is
available on the company's web site at www.aksteel.com.

AK Tube LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 250 men and
women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana. AK Tube produces
carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products
for truck, automotive and other markets. Additional information about AK Tube
LLC is available on its web site at www.aktube.com.

SOURCE AK Steel

Media: Alan H. McCoy, Vice President, Government and Public Relations,
+1-513-425-2826; Investors: Albert E. Ferrara, Jr., Vice President, Finance &
CFO, +1-513-425-2888