Wednesday, - February 22, 1989, Page 2 Published every Wednesday MaurcePlfher By 677209 Ontario inc. Phone: 668-6111 Peter Irvine Advertising Manager w Publisher Alexandra Simon MIIj 0 TEjCjNY TWNThe Free Press Building Production Manager (Dc VOCE O TH COUTY OWN131 Brock Street North, Sue Blanchard The on/y Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Circulation Manager Whitby residents for Whitby residents. 25th birthday for Lasco Lasco's first steel was cast on May 13, 1964. The first, small mini-steel mill had a capacity of about 180,000 tons (a very small operation), executive vice pre- sident of sales (Co-Steel) Jack Blucher said. "It is now a market mil], about four times as large," said mar- keting manager Rimas Gudelis. From 300 employees at its inception, Lasco now has more than 1,100. Gerald (Gerry) R. Heffernan founded Lasco when he left the Premier steel mill in Manitoba (upon its takeover by Stelco). "Many of the initial employees were from Western Canada. Many of the people at Premier followed Gerry down here and were the key people (of the ope- ration )," Blucher said. The Co-Steel corporation was begun by Heffernan when he started mills in the U.S. and Britain (four other operations). He needed an umbrella organiza- tion to "pull together the inter- ests of the various mills," he said. "We were producing primarily reinforcing steel back then. We are the biggest producer of rein- forcing steel in Canada. "In the intervening years, we have markedly increased the size of the product and have moved into the more sophisticated grades, for the automotive indus- try primarily," Blucher said. Eighty-five per cent of Lasco's production is reinforcing steel with 15 per cent the more refinecl steels for automotive and other uses. "When we first entered the market, we were a small player. Now we've taken over and dominated the market to this point. Lasco has grown at the expense of its competitors," Blu- cher said. "The plant was built as North America's first green field site using only electric furnaces and continuous casting. Back then,this was considered to be extremely innovative,» Gudelis said. The mill was located on a very small plot of land,and is now sitting on 345 acres of property down to the lake. "We're near the biggest mar- ket, near transportation, near good scrap supplies, and are not far from the U.S. border. These are reasons why he ( Heffernan) decided to locate here," he con- tinued. "The south end of the property was a landing field during the war (for pilot training in emer- gency landings)," Blucher said. "The story was that Moon planes used to land there (bring- ng in intelligence personnel) for Camp X." A LAKE Ontario Steel employee tests one of the ing reinforced steel. Lasco has two electric arc fur- company's two electrie arc furnaces. Lasco was the naces, one 65-ton furnace and the other, 130-ton first steel company to use continous casting in produc- capability. Lasco and environment Working to comply with tougher standards To celebrate its 25 years in business Lake Ontario Steel Corp. (Lasco) has planned a number of events involving its employees and town community groups as well as a book relating the history of the company. "Our major event will be a picnic for the emeployees to be held the July 1 weekend at Pleasure Valley," said Jack Blu- cher, executive vice president of sales. Blucher expects 3,000 people employees, their family and friends to attend the picnic. Also planned is an open house. Employees and community organizations and service clubs will be invited to take a tour of Lasco during June. Plans callfor parking to be off-site. Buses will then bring people in for the Lasco tour. The book has been planned since November, with completion expected in April. Lasco will also honor its long- term employees and customers with a dinner. At the customers' dinner June 9, Lasco founder Gerry Heffernan will be the guest speaker. An invitation has also been sent to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, which Blucher notes, has not yet been turned down. "We are also offering special items such as momentos and clothing items. This is a very special time for us," said Blu- cher, who has been with the company since it opened in Whitby in 1964. Lasco has two mills, one with a 130-ton electric arc furnace and the other with a 65-ton electric arc furnace. Steel scrap is used as raw material, fed into the furnaces which can reach a temperature of 3,900 C. (or 7,000. F.). The scrap is then melted into a mol- ten pool and formed into billets. The billets are then formed into the various reinforced pro- ducts Lasco sells in the market- place which include angles, chan- nels, round and flat bars. Lasco is also producing steel for use in the automotive indus- E Émploying 1,100 people, 800 of which are members of the United Steel Workers Union, Lasco has the capability of producing 900,000 tons of steel per year. "We were at our capacity last year," said Blucher. The financial statement of Co- Steel, Lasco's parent company, shows sales were $971 million in 1988, up 19 per cent from 1987. Their profit for 1988 was $52.7 million, compared to $29 million last year. Co-Steel is the umbrella com- pany for Lasco, Raritan Steel Co. in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and Sheerness Steel Co. in Sheer- ness, England. Blucher described 1988 as an excellent year, "one of the best we have ever had." Lasco is operating seven days a week, and Blucher does not see the demand for reinforced steel slowing down. "I think our edge is our com- petitive price and service. We can service the heck out of our customers,"said Blucher. While sales is important to Lasco, Blucher says the company has not forget about its environ- mental responsibilities. "Environmental standards are becoming tougher and we are complying because we are here for the long term." He used the experimental berm as an example. The berm is used by Lasco as an on-site dump for car shredder waste. It has been vehemently opposed by many residents in the neighborhood but Blucher says Lasco has acted responsibly. "We have handled that with prudent planning. We want to cooperate with the community and take a proactive role rather than a reactive role." Lasco has also begun teaching its employees how to handle hazardous waste. With sales increasing, Lasco has come out in favor of free trade but not because it will reduce tariffs on exports to the United States. "Free trade will keep our mar- ket to the U.S. open, said Blu- cher. Lasco now exports 25- tc 30-per cent of its products south of the border. "Free trade won't be an im- petus for sudden or great expan- sion," said Blucher but he did add that it may help Lasco grow in a more controlled manner. Front Page Photo LAKE Ontario Steel Corp. was one of the first steel companies to use "rebar slitting" in which a single billet, (a block of white hot steel), is divided into four bars. The front cover shows the four bars after being s plit; Lasco uses the process to im- prove cost efficiency; and productivity.,