Luxembourg-based steel giant Arcelor-Mittal is producing “jumbo beams” for the Freedom Tower foundation columns at its Differdange plant in Luxembourg. These extra large steel columns will be part of the foundation and underground structure of the Freedom Tower in New York, to be constructed at the site of the former World Trade Center.

Approximately 805 tons of steel will come out of the Differdange mill to create the first I-beam columns for the Freedom Tower. The Luxembourg plant specializes in producing the heaviest I-beams available in the world, the so called Jumbo sections. The final product columns will eventually comprise 27 I-beams in the subterranean structure of the future Freedom Tower. About 50,000 tons of steel will be used in total to erect the building.

The first steel columns from Luxembourg arrived in New York in December 2006. Steel structure for the building will be visible above ground in 2008. The main part of the structure is foreseen to be finalized in 2010 and the occupation should begin in 2011. The building is projected to be ready for occupancy in 2011.