DALLAS, Nov 14, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC), headquartered in Dallas, announced today its plans to construct a facility to develop and manufacture corrosion-resistant stainless steel clad products such as reinforcing bar, dowels and structural shapes for use in construction. The new facility will be a part of the CMC Steel Group and will operate under the name Spray Forming International.

The facility, to be located adjacent to its minimill in Cayce, South Carolina, will use the patented Osprey Metals Ltd. process to metallurgically bond stainless steel products. Construction is due to start in the near term with production to commence in mid-2002. In pursuing this venture, CMC has the exclusive North American license from Osprey Metals, Ltd. of the United Kingdom.

CMC Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Stanley A. Rabin said, "We are pleased to respond to market demands in making available a high-quality, domestically produced corrosion-resistant product to help engineers extend the life of bridges and roads."

The product combines the cost-effective attributes of commonly specified ASTM A615 grade 60 carbon steel at the core with a metallurgically bonded outside layer of AISI 316 stainless steel, widely recognized for its superior corrosion protection.

Commercial Metals Company and subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and market steel and metal products, related materials and services through a network of over 130 locations including 4 steel minimills, 27 steel fabrication plants, 1 castellated and cellular beam fabricating plant, 5 steel joist plants, 4 steel fence post manufacturing plants, 2 heat treating plants, a railcar rebuilding facility, 24 concrete-related product warehouses, an industrial products supply company, a railroad salvage company, a copper tube mill, 43 metal recycling facilities and 16 marketing and trading offices in the United States and in strategic overseas markets.