Strengthening Our Footprint in Northwest Indiana
As we continue to grow alongside our customers, we’re proud to announce a major step forward for BL Duke—our expansion into Portage, Indiana.
This move represents more than just a new location. It’s a strategic investment in infrastructure, logistics, and service—positioning us at the center of one of the most important steel and manufacturing corridors in the country.
A Presence Where It Matters Most
Northwest Indiana is home to some of the largest steel producers, service centers, and manufacturers in the Midwest. By establishing a physical presence in Portage, BL Duke is strategically positioned to support the movement of material throughout one of the country’s most critical industrial corridors. With a growing manufacturing customer base across Indiana, the Portage expansion enhances BL Duke’s ability to improve turnaround times, streamline logistics, and support production-driven operations with greater consistency and control.
“This expansion is about being closer to our customers and building the infrastructure needed to support their operations long-term,” said Lou Plucinski, President of BL Duke. “Northwest Indiana is one of the most important manufacturing regions in the country, and establishing a presence in Portage allows us to move faster, operate more efficiently, and deliver the level of service our customers depend on every day.”
Built to Support Scale
As part of the program, BL Duke will manage the movement of more than 20 loads per day between U.S. Steel’s Portage mill and other Indiana-based facilities, while supporting service center operations through a fully dedicated 24/7 logistics program.
To support this high-volume operation, BL Duke has committed the following resources:
- 10-acre Portage-based yard
- Dedicated fleet of heavy-haul trucks
- 35 roll-off containers and trailers
- Full-time driver team supporting 24/7 operations
- Specialized material handling and processing equipment
- Dedicated in-house maintenance facility
While this program represents a significant milestone, it also reflects something broader—our ability to execute at scale and deliver that same level of reliability, coordination, and responsiveness to every customer we serve.
What This Means for Our Customers
For manufacturers and service centers across Northwest Indiana, this expansion brings tangible benefits:
• Faster response times and reduced lead times
• Increased equipment availability and flexibility
• Improved freight efficiencies and cost control
• A local partner with the scale to support growth
Whether supporting high-volume mill programs or everyday production scrap, our goal remains the same: be the partner our customers can’t operate without.
Looking Ahead
This expansion builds on BL Duke’s multi-year investment in logistics infrastructure across truck, rail, and barge. Recent additions, including Class I rail access, company-owned barges and railcars, and the acquisition of Gilbert Trucking—have expanded the company’s fleet to more than 110 trucks.
While this milestone represents meaningful growth, it is part of a broader long-term strategy. We remain focused on investing in infrastructure, technology, and our team to enhance service capabilities and support our customers across the Midwest for years to come.
