Expanded footprint

Pictured: Wire produced by Johnstown Wire Technologies

Liberty’s new acquisition of Johnstown Wire Technologies will make it easier for the business to meet ‘Made in America’ requirements for public projects.

Liberty has further expanded its footprint in the United States’ steel downstream-products market with the acquisition of Johnstown Wire Technologies (JWT) in Johnstown, Pennsylvania – the largest producer of value-added carbon and alloy wire in North America.

The acquisition gives Liberty valuable capacity to manufacture a range of high-value carbon and alloy wire products for multiple end markets including the infrastructure, automotive, utility and consumer sectors.

The 250-worker advanced manufacturing facility at Johnstown will complement Liberty’s melting and rolling operations at Georgetown, South Carolina, and Peoria, Illinois. And, when combined with Liberty’s scrap processing plant in Tampa, Florida, the acquisition will firmly embed the business along the full value chain in the US steel market.

The acquisition will also substantially add to Liberty’s capability to meet the ‘Made in America’ specifications required for public infrastructure and utility contracts.

Chief Investment Officer for GFG in North America Grant Quasha says, “This is another very significant step towards our ambitious US goals. JWT is a profitable business with a skilled workforce and tremendous pedigree in the industry, so we look forward to welcoming it into the GFG USA family and helping it build an even stronger future.”

Liberty entered the US market in 2017 by acquiring ArcelorMittal’s Georgetown mill and followed up with the purchase of Keystone Consolidated Industries, including its flagship Peoria mill, in 2018.