Throughout 80 years; Industrias CH, S.A.B. de C.V. (ICH) has developed a key role in the industrialization process of México. ICH is a Mexican Steel company, which produces and processes steel, and has had continuous growth for the past three decades.
ICH is the largest producer of special bar quality steel (SBQ) in North America and a top producer of commercial and structural steel long products in México.
ICH was founded in 1934 with the name Herramientas, S.A., mainly dedicated to producing agriculture, hand and construction tools. At the beginning of the 1960’s, as part of vertical integration, ICH began manufacturing specialty steel, also diversifying with steel fabrication, metal structures/buildings, overhead cranes, and shipbuilding, both others.
In 1991, ICH was acquired by current managment, whose strategy is based on a more efficient business process, product diversification, and higher added value products, through the purchase of steel companies in North and South America.
In 2001, ICH acquired 82.5% of Grupo Simec, S.A. de C.V., which had steel mills and rolling facilities in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and Mexicali, Baja California, both dedicated to manufacturing commercial and structural steel long products, specialty steel bars, rebar and steel beams.
Simec S.A.B. de C.V. is currently the main subsidiary of ICH and represents 91% of total sales of the group.
In 2004, Simec acquired Grupo Sidenor, with assets and facilities in Apizaco, Tlaxcala, and Cholula, Puebla, dedicated to the fabrication of special bar quality steels (SBQ), commercial structural long products, and rebar. As a result of this acquisition, installed capacity and sales grew significantly while ICH consolidated its leadership in SBQ steels in México.
In 2005, ICH and SIMEC acquired Republic Engineered Products Inc. (currently Republic Steel), leader in special bar quality steels (SBQ) in the U.S. and owner of six facilities in the United States and one in Canda:
Canton, Solon, Lorain and Massillon, in Ohio,
Lackawanna, New York,
Gary, Indiana,
Hamilton,and one more platin Canada, locatedin
In 2006, ICH and SIMEC establish themselves as the largest producer of SBQ steels in North America, thanks to the consolidation of Republic Steel.
In 2008, ICH and SIMEC acquire Aceros DM, S.A. de C.V. and certain subsidiaries (Grupo San) located in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Grupo San focuses in the production of commercial and structural steel long products and is one of the largest producers of rebar in México. With this acquisition, ICH and SIMEC position themselves as the second largest rebar producer in México, and the largest steel producer overall.
In 2011, Republic Steel through SIMEC acquired Bluff City Steel (BCS Industries) assets and facilities in the U.S., which gave a thermic treatment to special-alloy steels. BCS Industries had facilities located in Cleveland, Ohio and Memphis, Tennessee. With this acquisition, Republic Steel increased its production capacity of SBQ and gave added value to their products.
In 2011, ICH and Simec invested in the construction of a new facility in Brazil (Pindanmonhangaba), becoming the first Mexican company with presence in that South American country, with an installed capacity of 500,000 annual tons of rebar and wire rod. The Steel Mill and Rolling facility started production in 2015.
In 2012, ICH and SIMEC, completed a capital investment in the San Luis Potosí facility which increased the installed capacity of billet for the production of rebar, wire rod, and wire rod value-added products to 1 million annual tons.
In 2015, SIMEC invests $600 million dollars in a new state-of-art steel mill and rolling facility in the state of Tlaxcala, in order to increase the production volume of special bar quality steel products (SBQ) In there to 1 million annual tons at this location. As a result, also expanding its current range to sizes previously not manufactured in Mexico. The facility begins operations in June 2018.
In 2017, SIMEC expands it's Aceros D.M. (San Luis Potosí) facility with a larger rolling mill, increasing its production from 480,000 to 580,000 tons annually. ICH also invests in a new plant that produces high and low carbon wire with an installed capacity of 150,000 annual tons. It begins operating in May 2018.
In 2018, SIMEC acquires two facilities in Brazil previously owned by Arcelor Mittal and becomes the third largest supplier of steel long products in the country with a total of three facilities. SIMEC reaches a total production capacity of 1 million annual tons in SIMEC.
