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Straightline Launches Steel Distribution Business in Alabama; Customers Gain Greater Control with a Mill-Direct Buying ExperiencePRNewswire BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Straightline Source, a division of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X), America's largest integrated steel maker, announced it is open for business statewide in Alabama, and in eastern Mississippi and the Florida panhandle. These areas join the Carolinas, northeastern Tennessee, Greater Atlanta and Greater Chicago to become premier operating regions for the new steel distribution business. A series of further regional rollouts is slated to continue throughout the United States this year. Straightline offers a direct buying option for processed steel products to companies of all sizes that do not typically buy directly from steel producers. Customers can receive instantaneous price quotations and place orders for a variety of carbon flat-roll steel products, 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week at http://www.straightline.com/, or by phone with knowledgeable customer account managers. Customers can choose to either configure processed products or select from a stock of finished goods. In addition to buying on a spot basis, customers can also establish contract relationships with Straightline. "Straightline is able to reduce customers' total cost of material acquisition by offering consistently low pricing and a streamlined process that puts the customer in control," said Bob Dryburgh, president, Straightline. Straightline has selected the Alabama area due to a growing base of varied manufacturing industries. "We're coming with a business that puts customers in control, giving them more choices and flexibility than the traditional steel-buying process," said Tom Regan, district manager for Straightline in Birmingham. "Customer feedback has been critical and has helped us build a business that is changing the way companies buy steel." Straightline manages the entire customer relationship and in doing so takes responsibility for all aspects of the transaction, including order placement, steel sourcing, inventory management, delivery and claims. Furthermore, Straightline offers a simple, easy-to-use web interface, with no complicated technology to learn. "Our relationship to date with Straightline has been excellent," said Beth Dowdy, purchasing representative for Birmingham Hollow Metals, Inc. "The prices are very competitive and the web-based program to order steel is so simple to use. We like the fact that we can go online at any time and check the status, as well as reorder." Straightline has assembled a network of local partners to hold inventory, perform custom processing and deliver finished goods. Processing partners are selected based on rigorous criteria, including ISO certification. The resulting network of processors has the opportunity to realize unique benefits by working with Straightline, as they increase utilization of their facilities without having to make additional investments in sales, marketing or inventory, thus improving their overall profitability. This year, Straightline will expand regionally throughout the country, and will continue to expand its processor network. Initially, Straightline will specialize in distributing carbon flat-roll steel, with plans to offer other materials based on customer demand. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Straightline Source is a division of United States Steel Corporation. Straightline specializes in distributing carbon flat-roll steel, offering a variety of hot roll, cold roll and galvanized products to customers of all sizes. These products are available in slit coil, stock sheets and custom cut-to-length sheets. For more information, visit our website at http://www.straightline.com/. SOURCE: Straightline Source Contact: Judy Sapos of Straightline Source, +1-412-433-7833, or Website: http://www.ussteel.com/ Website: http://www.straightline.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/929150.html |
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