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Straightline Extends Steel Distribution Business Into New England AreaUpstate New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont Now Have Access to Enhanced Steel BuyingPRNewswire Straightline Source, the technology- based steel distribution division from United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) that has garnered significant industry attention for its innovative approach to selling steel, announced expansion of its business into Upstate New York and New England. Straightline uses advanced supply chain management technologies to optimize the sale and distribution of processed steel products such as hot- rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized and strip mill plate products to companies of all sizes that don't typically source steel directly from mills. Straightline serves transactional buyers by offering instant price quotes and next day deliveries on prepackaged goods, and offers contractual buyers advanced planning capabilities, facilitating inventory and materials management. "The market demands greater efficiency and effectiveness in fulfilling orders for steel," said Bob Dryburgh, Straightline president. "Straightline's quoting, ordering and inventory management tools put customers in greater control of price and delivery, giving them the flexibility to consider how the options we present match against their production schedule, cash flow and other factors relevant to the procurement decision making process." Officially launched last fall, Straightline currently serves customers in 33 states throughout most of the eastern United States and just west of the Mississippi. Additional rollouts are scheduled throughout the year to highly concentrated areas of steel buyers across the country with plans to be nationwide in mid-2003. Customers can place spot orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week via telephone, fax or the Internet. Straightline also has experienced field sales support and local metallurgical expertise available at no additional cost to consult on material applications. Straightline's Customer Advantage By leveraging information technology, Straightline allows customers to have greater control over their transactions. All steel buyers visiting http://www.straightline.com/ have access to StraightQuote™, a service that provides instant spot price quotations arranged in a matrix based on varying combinations of quantity and delivery dates. StraightQuote now handles on the average 2,000 price inquiries per week, significantly enhancing customer service and response time. Soon, contract customers will have access to a variety of planning and inventory management tools on the Straightline website, enabling them to view part files, review usage patterns, upload forecasts and initiate releases electronically. "This is a natural progression in Straightline's expansion to serve all customers," said Anthony Errico, district manager for the new region. "Through our business approach, our customers clearly understand their procurement options and enjoy unique control over their order process." A Growing Enterprise Straightline takes ownership of all phases of the transaction, from the sourcing of steel through order fulfillment. It does this by partnering with a growing network of strategically located steel processors that hold inventory and perform custom processing. Straightline purchases the steel it sells from multiple suppliers, with finished goods shipped from processor partners to customers by carriers coordinated through Straightline's logistics partner. Processing partners are selected based on rigorous criteria, including ISO certification. By partnering with Straightline, processors benefit by increasing utilization of their equipment and facilities without the added costs of sales, marketing or inventory, thus improving their overall profitability. To date, more than 3,500 companies have registered with Straightline, and the number continues to grow. Steel buyers who want to obtain a free no-obligation quote, place orders or learn more about Straightline can do so by visiting http://www.straightline.com/ or by calling Straightline Customer Care toll-free at 1-866-252-0488. Straightline Source is a division of United States Steel Corporation and specializes in a distribution business for carbon flat-rolled steel to customers of all sizes that do not typically buy steel goods directly from steel producers. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Straightline has a growing staff of 150 employees. Visit Straightline at http://www.straightline.com/. SOURCE: Straightline Source CONTACT: Maggie Bray of Magnet Communications, +1-412-456-4308, or Web site: http://www.straightline.com/ Company News On-Call: |
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