1. small steel mills that produce steel by melting scrap metal in electric furnaces rather than making steel from iron ore
Usage: industrial; plural form

Examples

• The minimills revolutionized steel production in the 1970s.
• Many minimills are located near urban areas where scrap metal is readily available.
• Traditional steel companies struggled to compete with the lower costs of minimills.
• The company operates three minimills across the Midwest.
• Minimills typically require less capital investment than integrated steel plants.
• Environmental regulations favor minimills because they produce fewer emissions.