Republic Creates Cold-Finished Bar Products Division; Names Mike Eberth General Manager

Republic's vision is to expand value-added processing capabilities and services.

FAIRLAWN, Ohio, Feb. 6 -- Republic Engineered Products, Inc., North America's largest producer of special bar quality (SBQ) steel, today announced the creation of its new Cold-Finished Bar Products Division.

The company named Michael Eberth as the division's general manager. Eberth will oversee Republic's cold-finished bar operations and sales of cold- finished bar products.

"While we have always had the capability and capacity to manufacture cold- finished bar products, we saw a significant opportunity for additional growth in this product line," said Jaime Vigil, Republic's president and chief executive officer. "The creation of our new Cold-Finished Bar Products Division and the hiring of Mike Eberth to head the division are two very important steps toward our goal of becoming the preferred partner for companies seeking cold-finished bar products."

Republic manufactures cold-finished bar at its Gary, Ind.; Hamilton, Ont.; and Massillon, Ohio, operations, which together now make up the new division. Republic's cold-finished bar is shipped primarily to the steel distribution, automotive, off-highway and aircraft industries.

Republic manufactures cold-finished carbon and alloy bar products in rounds (0.25" to 6"), hexagons (0.25" to 3"); squares (0.25" to 3.5") and flats (0.25" to 4" thickness and 1" to 6" width). The company also offers cold-finished bar in a variety of special finishes, grades and qualities, and performs various thermal treatments and other value-added processes to the product.

"Mike will work closely with Republic's executive staff to establish clear direction for this business unit," Vigil said. "He will assess new opportunities in this market as well as current and future capabilities and equipment needs. I have complete confidence that we have the product expertise and people necessary to make our new Cold-Finished Bar Division a tremendous success."

Eberth has an extensive previous history with Republic and understands the company's processes and its customers. He started his career with LTV Steel as a sales representative in Detroit. He then led account development for LTV's Bar Division in Philadelphia, which ultimately became part of Republic. In 1990, Eberth moved back to Detroit, where he worked with key customers in the automotive industry as well as larger screw machine shops and automotive transplants. He was later promoted to district sales manager for Republic's Specialty Steels Division in Chicago.

In 1998, Eberth transitioned to Republic Technologies International as a regional manager for cold-finished bars. After leaving Republic in 2005, he joined Outokumpu Stainless Bar as commercial manager, where he continued to serve many of Republic's top cold-finished customers. Eberth rejoined Republic in January 2008.

Republic Engineered Products, Inc., is North America's leading supplier of special bar quality (SBQ) steel, a highly engineered product used in axles, drive trains, suspensions and other critical components of automobiles, off- highway vehicles and industrial equipment. With headquarters in Fairlawn, Ohio, the company operates steelmaking centers in Canton and Lorain, Ohio, and value-added rolling and finishing facilities in Canton, Lorain and Massillon, Ohio; Lackawanna, N.Y.; Gary, Ind.; and Hamilton, Ontario. Republic employs approximately 2,500 people.