A Recipe for Steel; Gallatin Steel Labs Certified for Quality by National Accrediting Association.

Business Editors

WARSAW, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 2000

Mixing the right "recipe" for steel is no easy job - but the lab technicians at Gallatin Steel Company are at the top of their class, according to an national accrediting association.

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, known as A2LA, announced today that it has certified Gallatin Steel's chemical and physical testing processes. This certification, equivalent to ISO 9000 series or QS 9000 certification, is a benchmark of quality that honors a laboratory's efficiency and accuracy.

"It feels good to be recognized for something we've known was true since we opened our doors," said Don Daily, Gallatin Steel's Vice President and General Manager. "Our testing labs play a vital role in the steelmaking process and our technicians are responsible for insuring that our customers receive exactly what they order. They have always done an outstanding job and certification by A2LA is confirmation of what we have known all along. Everyone here is extremely proud of what they have accomplished."

The chemical and physical testing labs at Gallatin Steel are responsible for making sure a customer's certain "recipe" for steel is followed to the letter. The technicians can direct the steelmakers to change the chemical composition of the steel during the production process so that it meets a customer's exact specifications. Then, the physical testing team takes the steel after it's coiled and puts it through a series of tests to determine its strength and hardness.

"This is a real testament to the work we do here at Gallatin Steel," said L.K. Chiang, Manager of Quality Assurance. "Every customer has different needs, and it's our job to meet those needs with a high-quality product. This certification just proves what an important part our labs play in providing that product."

Jason Tumulty, the Process Manager of Labs at Gallatin Steel, said, "It takes a lot of hard work to be certified by A2LA. We're glad to know someone else recognizes that our processes are the best in the industry. And it assures our customers that they can count on the results coming out of our labs."

A2LA is a non-profit organization committed to improving laboratory practices through a national accreditation system. There are just over 1,300 labs certified by A2LA around the world. The group monitors laboratories in many fields, including biological, chemical, construction materials, electrical, and environmental laboratories.

Gallatin Steel, located in Ghent, Kentucky, is a flat-rolled carbon steel producer. The state-of-the-art electric furnace steelmaker employs approximately 350 people. The company, which has an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons, earned its ISO 9002 certification in 1998. A joint venture of Co-Steel and Dofasco, Gallatin Steel is located on the banks of the Ohio River, less than an hour from Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The company has the ability to ship its product via truck, rail and barge. For more information, visit Gallatin Steel at www.gallatinsteel.com.