What Are Mini-Mills?

Mini-Mills

Mini mills are a type of steel manufacturing facility that primarily focuses on producing steel products through electric arc furnaces (EAF), which melt recycled scrap steel to create new steel. Unlike traditional integrated mills, which use blast furnaces and process raw materials like iron ore, mini mills are more energy-efficient and cost-effective since they rely on scrap metal as their primary raw material. Mini mills typically produce smaller volumes of steel and are more flexible in the types of products they can manufacture. These mills have lower capital investment requirements, making them an attractive option for smaller-scale operations or regions with abundant scrap metal. They also tend to have smaller environmental footprint due to the reduced need for raw materials and lower energy consumption compared to traditional mills.