Lukens’ original plans were to build a 180” three-high mill, just large enough to claim the title of the world’s widest mill. However, no roll manufacturer could produce the required size and weight of the rolls necessary for that mill.

Instead, Lukens collaborated with the United Engineering & Foundry Company (UE&F) of Pittsburgh. Lukens and UE&F engineers worked together to produce a 204” wide, four-high rolling mill. This mill rolled its first plates on May 22, 1918 and was enlarged to 206” wide in 1919, keeping the title of the world’s largest plate mill for more than forty years.