Senator Rob Portman Named "Steel Champion" By AISI

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Aug. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) announced that United States Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) was honored today at the company's Zanesville, Ohio Works with the "2015 Congressional Steel Champion Award" from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).  The award recognizes Senator Portman for his dedication to and support of the American steel industry and its employees.

The award was presented by James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and CEO of AK Steel, and Thomas J. Gibson, President and CEO of AISI.  Also attending the ceremony were representatives from AK Steel's corporate headquarters, along with employees of the Zanesville plant, including Thomas Harlan, President, UAW Local 4104.

"AK Steel and other domestic steelmakers have faced a tidal wave of what we believe are unfairly traded imports," said Mr. Wainscott.  "Senator Portman has been a leader in championing improvements to the trade laws which help level the playing field so our industry can remain competitive."

Senator Portman said, "I am honored and humbled by this award.  It is a tribute to the importance of steelmaking in America, supported by my work with industry through the recent Leveling the Playing Field Act."  Senator Portman was a lead co-sponsor of legislation authored by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) that was signed into law last month to help give U.S. companies – including the steel industry – new tools to fight unfair trade practices. 

AISI President and CEO Thomas Gibson commended Senator Portman's support.  "Senator Portman played a key role in getting recent trade legislation signed into law to improve the effectiveness of antidumping and countervailing duty laws to combat unfairly traded imports.  These come at a key time for the steel industry."

Following the awards presentation, Senator Portman toured the Zanesville Works and met employees.  The Zanesville plant is a finishing facility for AK Steel's electrical and stainless steel products. 

AK Steel
AK Steel is a world leader in the production of flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steel products, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets.  Headquartered in West Chester, Ohio (Greater Cincinnati), the company employs approximately 8,000 men and women at eight steel plants, two coke plants and two tube manufacturing plants across six states:  Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Additional information about AK Steel is available at www.aksteel.com.

AISI
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI's website at www.steel.org.

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SOURCE AK Steel

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