ThyssenKrupp Steel USA and ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA officially opened their new steelmaking and processing plant in southeastern USA. ThyssenKrupp has invested USD 5 billion dollars into the overall complex, 3.6 billion for the carbon flat steel facilities and 1.4 billion for the stainless area. The company intends to tap into the carbon flat steel market, catering to customers in the service center, automotive, construction, appliance and tube sectors. The central element of the plant is the wide, five million tns/yr hot strip mill. The company has met and exceeded strict American and European environmental standards via extensive energy recovery and recycling technologies, including an innovative water treatment plant.