TimkenSteel (NYSE: TMST, timkensteel.com), a leader in customized alloy steel products and services, has brought its newest thermal-treatment asset, the advanced quench-and-temper facility, online and has begun processing customer orders. The addition of the $40 million facility, located at the company's Gambrinus Steel Plant in Canton, Ohio, increases TimkenSteel's existing quench-and-temper capacity by 50,000 tons or 45 percent and brings the company's total annual thermal-treatment capacity to 500,000 process tons.

"We're pleased to bring this newest asset online now that market demand for thermal-treated bars and tubes has increased," said Tom Moline, executive vice president of commercial operations. "The advanced quench-and-temper facility is the largest of our four thermal-treatment facilities, and enables us to meet customer needs faster and at more precise specifications. In addition to servicing automotive applications, this will be especially beneficial for our oil and gas customers' most demanding applications in down-hole tools and top-of-hole infrastructure."

TimkenSteel announced its plan to build the advanced quench-and-temper facility in October 2014. The company announced earlier this year that it expected startup to occur in the fourth quarter, after deferring commissioning of the facility in response to market conditions.

Manufactured by SMS Group with custom modifications made by TimkenSteel's in-house team of scientists and engineers, the facility can accommodate 4-inch to 13-inch bars and tubes.