Northwestern Steel and Wire

Illinois’ Northwestern Steel and Wire began as Northwestern Barbed Wire in 1879.  During its first several decades, the company manufactured barbed wire, bale ties, drawn wire and, eventually, nails.

After some rocky years during the early 20th century, the company was back on its feet and going strong by the pre-World War II years, when it purchased two electric furnaces and rolling machines to make low-carbon steel.  In 1938, the name of the company was permanently changed to Northwestern Steel and Wire.

According to a written history of the company, Northwestern played a large role in World War II, manufacturing products used to aid America in fighting the war.  During those years, the company purchased two 50-ton electric furnaces.

In 1950, in order to keep up with the burgeoning need for steel and steel products, two 150-ton furnaces were added.  By 1968, a 250-ton furnace was installed and in 1971 and 1976, two 400-ton Electro-Melt furnaces, the largest electric furnaces in the world, were brought to Northwestern. A third furnace was converted to a 400-ton capacity in 1979.

By 1980, Northwestern was at its grandest, becoming Whiteside County, Illinois' largest employer, with 4,678 people on its payroll.

However, shortly thereafter, changes in the steel industry prompted huge losses in business, and by 1998, Northwestern Steel and Wire had ceased production of most of its products.  In 2001, it closed its doors for good.

Through its long history, Northwestern was not unlike other steel manufacturers who made wide use of a wide variety of products containing asbestos.  Some companies even continued using the products long after warnings were issued as to the hazards of inhaling airborne asbestos.

In steel mills, ovens, ladles, boilers, and steam pipes were manufactured from or insulated by asbestos, due to its highly-regarded heat- and fire-resistant properties.  Employees – like welders, pourers, casters, machinists, millwrights, and others – wore asbestos clothing to protect them from life-threatening spills.  This kind of close exposure to asbestos-containing products has resulted in hundreds of steel mill workers being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer whose only known cause is asbestos inhalation.

If you were employed by Northwestern Steel and Wire and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should be informed as to your rights to fair compensation.  Take a moment to order our free Mesothelioma Resource Kit, full of useful information about the disease and your legal rights as a victim.