First-quarter start eyed for steel galvanizing line

Lappin Industries Inc., a Sault-based company that's trying to create 60 jobs by starting a galvanizing line at Algoma Steel, expects to be up and running by the first quarter of next year.

The company's president, Robert LaPensee, also predicts Lappin will become Algoma Steel's biggest customer within one year.

Last night, City Council agreed to provide $17,500 toward the $70,000 cost of developing a feasibility study, business plan, and locating financing. To read more about the company's plan to move galvanizing equipment into Algoma Steel's old structural bay, click here.

Sault entrepreneurs

Key figures in the Sault-based company, shown in our photo above, include (l. to r.):

- Robert Carricato, controller - Mike Pajuluoma, human resources - Kelly Halpin, water resources technologist - Shane Halpin, vice president - Gary McMillan, operations manager - Robert LaPensee, president

ASI and electricity prices

To read our coverage from yesterday about Algoma Steel's efforts to prevent shutdowns related to high spot prices in Ontario's newly deregulated electricity market, click here.

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