Laclede Steel shut down its mill in Alton, Ill., and filed for bankruptcy July 27th. The Alton mill includes a melt shop and 14-inch bar mill. Laclede will try to sell the mill as a whole but will sell the equipment in a bankruptcy auction if no buyers come forward. The move threw 500 people out of work in Alton, which is across the Mississippi River from the St. Louis area; Laclede's headquarters are in St. Louis.Laclede also put its pipe division in Fairless Hills, Pa., on the block, although it still is operating. Its Laclede Chain Manufacturing business has been up for sale since last year.
NSTL
