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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 16, 1993                   TAG: 9303160035
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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GE GETS STEEL MILL'S BUSINESS

General Electric Drive Systems said Monday it has received a $16 million order for controls and equipment for a rolling mill for Lukens Steel in Conshohocken, Pa.

The two-year construction upgrading will not add jobs at the Salem plant but it "further enhances job security," said Tom Brock, GE vice president. The order came from United Engineering, general contractor for the mill.

GE is to supply all process control and automation, drive equipment and technical advisory services for a minimill at Luken's steel mill.

This will double the capacity of the Conshoshocken mill and enable Lukens to effectively compete in new markets, said Rod Fickler, sales manager for the metal rolling operation of Drive Systems.

When completed, Fickler said, GE believes this will be the most automated minimill in the world. Lukens "will be able to produce world-class steel products meeting quality standards well above those typical of this kind of mill," he said.

Brock said the order is a breakthrough for Drive Systems, where the plant is focusing on productivity improvements, according to Mike Allee, communication manager.

Brock said the department has become the best choice for the minimill market because it is designing standardized products that can be engineered and manufactured more quickly and efficiently than earlier models, while offering customers increased reliability. He said GE will have a total systems package "that we believe is unmatched for quality, reliability and customer value" in the industry.

The Lukens mill will feature Drive Systems' new Directo-Matic 2000 drives, part of its new structure, the company said.

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