MARKING A MILESTONE — Wheeling-Nippon Steel celebrated the production of its 20 millionth coated steel coil since the Follansbee plant began operations in April 1988. The plant has applied protective, corrosive-resistant coating to millions of tons of steel used by a variety of U.S. industries. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — Coated steel coils processed by Wheeling-Nippon Steel have been used by a variety of U.S. industries, and the company celebrated a major milestone Wednesday with the production of its 20 millionth coil.

Ken Tagashira, chief executive officer of Wheeling-Nippon Steel, was among leaders of the steel firm who offered a closer look at the plant’s operations, where steel coils weighing from 20,000 pounds to 42,000 pounds each are treated with protective coatings through two lines, each with a capacity to process up to 700,000 tons.

He said it’s the only U.S. company to offer five different hot dip coatings under one roof.

“Wheeling-Nippon is proud of this landmark production achievement and plans to build on its nearly four decades of successes as it begins to produce the next 20 million tons,” said Tagashira.

Frank Mollica, vice president of manufacturing, said the steel is produced domestically and used in the U.S. in a variety of fields, including agriculture, automotive and appliance manufacturing, construction and solar power.

In 2013, Wheeling-Nippon Steel added a new coating product called ZAM. A zinc aluminum and magnesium alloy, it’s said to be super resistant to corrosion and scratching because it is nearly three times harder than more commonly used galvanized coatings.

The company has been marketing ZAM to state highway departments for use in guardrails, due to their extended exposure to the elements, and it can be found in guardrails along Follansbee streets as well as Brooke Middle School.

Mollica said the plant’s output reached 10 million tons in 2006 and, pending market conditions, it could reach 30 million tons in less time.

To convey the volume of product attained by Wheeling-Nippon, Mollica said 20 million tons of uncoiled steel, if laid end to end, would circle the globe 63 times.

He and Jim Bogolea, general manager of human resources and public relations for Wheeling-Nippon, said the plant currently employs 190 and has averaged about 170 workers per year since it opened.

Launched in 1986 as a joint venture between Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel and Nisshin Steel, a Japanese steelmaker, the Follansbee plant was acquired in recent years by Nippon Steel.

Nippon Steel is Japan’s largest producer of steel and a leading steelmaker in the world, with operations in 15 countries and several other facilities in the U.S. The company in December made a $14.1 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel.

Wheeling-Nippon Steel has played an active role in the community, lending financial support to local events and sponsoring up to 10 scholarships awarded to Brooke High School graduates each year.