.jpg?lang=en-US&ext=.jpg)
Outokumpu to Expand Stainless Long Products Production in Sheffield
05/22/2008 - As part of Outokumpu’s strategy to increase its share of special products, and sales, the company announces an investment in long products finishing facilities in Sheffield, in the U.K.
As part of Outokumpu’s strategy to increase its share of special products, and sales to end-user and project customers, the company has announced an investment in long products finishing facilities in Sheffield, in the U.K.
The project features the installation of coil-to-bar drawing lines as well as de-coiling and straightening equipment for stainless rebar, a product area that should include significant amounts of LDX2101, Outokumpu’s proprietary lean duplex grade.
“With this investment we will take an important step in the long products business in Europe, by moving downstream into drawn bar and rebar products,” said Tommy Grahn, head of Outokumpu’s Long Products business unit. “The low-nickel, lean duplex rebar is a particularly exciting new product. By selectively substituting traditional carbon steel rebar, it can dramatically extend the life of reinforced concrete structures.”
With its investment, Outokumpu will create an integrated manufacturing route for small bar and rebar to complement the meltshop and wire rod mill that currently exist in Sheffield. The expansion, along with the company’s existing bar capabilities in Sweden and the U.S., will enable Outokumpu to offer a wider long products portfolio in Europe and the rest of the world.
The total investment is some EUR 10 million and the new equipment is scheduled to be in production by mid-2009.
Outokumpu is the second-largest stainless steel long products manufacturer in Europe with production facilities in Sheffield, the U.K., and Degerfors, Sweden, as well as Richburg, S.C., in the U.S. Products made out of stainless bar are used widely in such industries as oil and gas, pulp and paper, chemicals, water treatment, architecture building and construction, aerospace, automotive, etc., where corrosion resistance is important.
