The furnace, which produces molten iron for steelmaking, was brought down Oct. 2 following a morning fire on the east side of the equipment. A tuyere — the mechanism that delivers the air blast to the furnace — failed, causing the contents of the furnace such as coke, iron-ore pellets and molten iron, to spill out, according to AK officials.
No one was hurt in the fire, although it took Middletown and Monroe fire crews several hours to contain the fire and clear the scene.
McCoy said the company still has no definitive cause as to why the tuyere failed.
Scott Rich, president of the Machinists Local Lodge 1943, which represents hourly workers at the plant, said this is not the first time a tuyere has failed on the blast furnace, although this case was the most severe in his memory.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
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