 After a failed acquisition by Koninklijke Hoogovens in 1997 the company became a subsidiary of Duferco in 1999, Duferco La Louvière.Blast furnace production was ended by the beginning of the 21st century.A joint venture including the plant was formed with NLMK in 2006, terminated in 2011, with the NLMK and Duferco splitting flat and long product facilities at the plant.