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ThyssenKrupp VDM Starts up Expanded Wire Production Facility
02/13/2008 - ThyssenKrupp VDM GmbH has relocated its wire production to Werdohl, near the company’s headquarters, with the startup of a new, state-of-the-art production line for nickel alloy and high-alloy special stainless steel wire.
As part of its ongoing effort to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading suppliers of high-performance nickel alloys, ThyssenKrupp VDM GmbH has plans to invest more than 70 million euros.
One significant part of its forward strategy is relocation of the company’s wire production from Bärenstein to Werdohl, where the company’s headquarters is based. The company created a state-of-the-art production line for nickel alloy and high-alloy special stainless steel wire at an investment cost of around twelve million euros. The new line officially began operation earlier this month.
“The move took place while production continued, allowing us to guarantee supplies to our worldwide customers at all times,” said Jürgen Olbrich, Chairman of ThyssenKrupp VDM’s Management Board, at the opening. “With the new and extensively modernized wire production line, ThyssenKrupp VDM is ideally equipped for the future”.
Rolled, heavy, fine and flat wire as well as heating elements and welding wire are now produced at the Werdohl plant, where approximately 550 tons of wire per month will be produced in an 11,000-square-meter building.
“This step will significantly improve the competitiveness of ThyssenKrupp VDM. Where possible we follow the principle that restructuring goes before job losses,” said Michael Rademacher, Vice Chairman of ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG. “This is also a signal for Germany. Companies like ThyssenKrupp are investing here, companies can produce at competitive cost in this country,” he continued.
The previous site in Bärenstein had no longer been capable of competitive wire production. Increased demands on equipment, logistics and production efficiency made it necessary to move to the company’s main base. The roughly 160 employees in Bärenstein have found new jobs within ThyssenKrupp VDM.
The new wire plant in Werdohl is part of a ThyssenKrupp VDM investment program totaling more than 70 million euros. The program also includes the expansion of remelt capacities and construction of a forging line at the company’s Unna site.
ThyssenKrupp VDM, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG, has been developing high-performance materials for more than 75 years. One of the world’s leading producers of nickel alloys and high-alloy special stainless steels, ThyssenKrupp VDM’s product range includes strip, sheet, bar, forgings, tube and wire as well as precision products. The company is based in Werdohl and has further production sites in Altena, Siegen and Unna.
In the USA ThyssenKrupp VDM GmbH operates plants in Florham Park, N.J., and Reno, Nev., which specialize in the production of high-strength materials for the aerospace industry. A global sales organization with 14 branch offices, combined with service centers in Guangzhou, China, and Melbourne, Australia, ensure an ideal local presence on the world markets, serving the plant engineering, energy, oil, gas, electrical, electronics, automotive and aerospace sectors. In fiscal 2006/2007 the company generated sales of more than 1.4 billion euros and employed around 1800 people worldwide.
