West Chester, Ohio - AK Steel announced today that it is temporarily idling its Mansfield, Ohio operations, and most of its Ashland, Kentucky operations, due to the recent unanticipated and major downturn in the economy, which has resulted in sharply lower demand for some of the company’s products. The company said that, based upon currently forseeable market conditions, both facilities will remain idled until early- to mid-January.

AK Steel’s Mansfield Works currently employs 365 hourly and salaried men and women. The plant produces stainless flat-rolled steel which is used primarily to manufacture automotive exhaust systems. Steel production and shipping temporarily ceased at the Mansfield Works earlier this week. A small number of hourly and salaried employees will continue to maintain the operations in anticipation of a resumption of production when warranted by business conditions.

The Ashland Works produces carbon flat-rolled steel for automotive, appliance and other markets, and the plant currently employs 1,100 hourly and salaried men and women. However, about 275 of the Ashland Works employees work at the company’s coke plant, which will continue to operate, but at a reduced level. Ashland’s blast furnace, steelmaking, casting and coating operations will be idled later this month.