Acerinox, a stainless steel manufacturer based in Spain, announced that it planned a US$244 million expansion project at its North American Stainless (NAS) mill in Ghent, Kentucky, to raise the production capacity by 20% or 200,000 tons per year.

The planned expansion included a new cold rolling mill, an upgrade to its annealing and pickling lines, and an enlargement of the melt shop.

Bernardo Velázquez, CEO of Acerinox, said that the expansion will reinforce the company’s leadership in the US market and the commitment to this facility.

The expansion will also create 70 new quality jobs in the region.