Evraz NA rebrands as Orion

Connecticut-based Atlas Holdings, the new owners of the Evraz North America steelmaking and metal recycling assets in the United States and Canada, is adopting the name Orion Steel Cos. for those mills and facilities.

Atlas Holdings signed a definitive agreement to acquire Evraz Inc. NA and Evraz Inc. NA Canada earlier this summer, purchasing metals sector assets assembled by a Russian company that, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, began operating as a separate entity.

The newly named Orion Steel Cos. consists of recycled-content electric arc furnace (EAF) operators Rocky Mountain Steel Mills and Oregon Steel Mills in the U.S., Regina, Saskatchewan-based Interpro Pipe and Steel, plus more than 15 metal recycling facilities in the western U.S. and Canada.

Atlas also has appointed Doug Matthews as CEO of Orion Steel.

Matthews has 33 years of experience with Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corp., where the firm says he played an essential role in revitalizing its commercial strategy and operations, ultimately serving as chief commercial and technology officer of Tubular and Mining Solutions.

Matthews joined U.S. Steel in 1988, rising through company ranks from plant leadership in Pittsburgh to operations leadership as a member of the executive team.

“As a well-capitalized strategic supplier, Orion Steel is poised to become a central player in the North American market, helping to ensure economic and security interests of the U.S. and Canada are advanced through significant, local production,” Matthews says.

“I’ve been in this business for three decades and I am completely energized by this unique opportunity. This is a historic operation heading into a bold new chapter.”

The new CEO succeeds Skip Herald, who had been leading Evraz NA since 2019 and will continue as a member of the Orion Steel board of directors, according to the firm.

Regarding the readoption of the use of the Rocky Mountain, Oregon Steel and Interpro names, Atlas Holdings says, “Each of the companies’ names were inspired by the legacies of their steel operations, honoring their roots while beginning a new era.”

Orion now collectively employs 3,400 people at two EAF mills, 12 steel product mills and 17 scrap recycling facilities. The overall Orion group has annual raw steelmaking capacity of 2.3 million tons and finished steel capacity, including tubular products, of 3.5 million tons, according to the firm.

“Orion Steel products regularly contain 98 percent-plus recycled scrap material and Rocky Mountain Steel is the world’s largest solar-powered steel mill and the largest rail supplier in North America,” Atlas says.

“I’ve seen the look in steelworkers’ eyes when they push an operation to new heights," Matthews adds. "We are going to see that same look from our team members across all Orion Steel facilities as we write the next chapter of this essential North American steelmaker.

“We have a partner Atlas with a stellar record in the U.S. and Canada of building great industrial companies over the long term, and Atlas is committed to ensuring we have the human and financial capital we need, and the strategic guidance, to achieve lasting success."

Atlas Holdings, together with its affiliates, owns and operates 29 companies that employ more than 60,000 people at 375 facilities worldwide.

In the basic materials sector, the company’s presence includes ownership of recycled-content tissue maker Marcal Paper, Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper, Crown Paper Group, copper wire producer International Wire Group and steel fabricators Veritas Steel and Permasteelisa Group.

“This is a critical time in the global steel market," Atlas partner Sam Astor says. "We’re ready to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities, and we are excited to be playing a role in ensuring the long-term of strategic steel production in the U.S. and Canada.”