4. May 2015

Europe-wide expertise in special steel now available from a single source

Steeltec pools bright steel activities

As of May 2015, the production and sales activities of the bright steel companies within the SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group in Switzerland, Scandinavia and Turkey, and at the Düsseldorf site in Germany, will be pooled as a single business unit (formerly the S+B Bright Bar Group) under the roof of the SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH subsidiary Steeltec. This development sees the Steeltec Group become one of the leading specialist bright bar manufacturers in Europe. The restructuring has generated numerous synergies along the entire value chain from steel development and production to sales and distribution. Customers will in future profit from a broader product and service portfolio, comprehensive consulting services covering materials, processes and applications and the optimum in supply reliability.

‘Our expert knowledge of materials coupled with a deep understanding of technical processes and how to modify bright steel to meet specific application needs is a combination unique in Europe,’ says Gerd Münch, CEO of the Steeltec Group. ‘By systematically growing each of our sites as powerful business partners that contribute to the development of advanced steel solutions, we are actively strengthening the market competitiveness of our customers in Europe.’ The Steeltec Group unites the product and service expertise of Steeltec AG (Switzerland), Steeltec Praezisa GmbH (Germany), SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Blankstahl GmbH (Germany), Boxholm Stål AB (Sweden), SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH A/S (Denmark) and SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Celik A.S. (Turkey). These companies will all now be trading under the name Steeltec and together they make up the business unit of the same name within the SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group.

As a result of the merger, Steeltec has effectively strengthened its production and sales capacities in the Scandinavian market and has secured its future long-term competitiveness. The Group has pooled its regional manufacturing capabilities at the Boxholm site in Sweden, while Nørresundby in Denmark will be expanded to handle both storage and distribution operations. European companies that use bright steel in the automotive, mechanical engineering and hydraulics industries will continue to enjoy the benefits of local on-the-ground advisory services coupled with a broad full-service portfolio from a single source. The services offered cover the development and production of high-performance steel bar products, precision finishing operations, informed technical advisory services and a comprehensive European distribution network. The product portfolio offered by the Steeltec Group covers high-strength and higher strength special steel, high-quality bright steel, special quenched and tempered steel, free-cutting steel, case-hardened steel and engineering steel – all of which can be supplied at short notice within Europe.

Image 1: Steeltec’s European sites, Source: Steeltec
Image 2: Steel, Source: Steeltec

About the Steeltec Group
With a workforce of around 620 in six locations in Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey, the Steeltec Group is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of special bright steel. Steeltec’s four self-owned production centres fabricate high-strength and higher strength special steel, high-quality bright steel, special quenched and tempered steel, free-cutting steel, case-hardened steel and engineering steel. Core areas of expertise include the application-specific development and production of high-quality bright steel, precision finishing operations and professional technical advice that is provided locally. The Steeltec Group works closely with customers, suppliers and research institutions to continually improve the production and engineering properties of steel, driving competitiveness across the entire value chain. Thanks to its Europe-wide distribution network, Steeltec can guarantee delivery reliability to its customers in the automotive, hydraulic and mechanical engineering industries.

About SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH
Today, the SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH Group is one of the world’s leading providers of customised solutions in the specialty steel long products business. A global name in tool steel and stainless long steel, the Group is one of two largest companies in Europe for alloy and high-alloy engineering steel. With around 10 000 employees at its own production and distribution companies in 38 countries across five continents, the Company supports and supplies customers wherever they operate. Besides the comprehensive Production and Sales & Services portfolio, customers benefit from the Company’s technological expertise, consistent high quality worldwide and in-depth knowledge of local markets.

Corporate contacts
Gerd Münch • Steeltec Group
Phone: +41 (0)41 209-5622 • Fax: +41 (0)41 209-5605
E-mail: gerd.muench(at)steeltec.ch • Internet: www.steeltec.ch

Stefanie Steiner • SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH AG
Phone: +41 (0)41 209-5042 • Fax: +41 (0)41 209-5043
E-mail: s.steiner(at)schmolz-bickenbach.com
Internet: www.schmolz-bickenbach.com

External media contact
Hanna Maurer • additiv pr GmbH & Co. KG
Public relations for logistics, steel, industrial commodities and IT
Herzog-Adolf-Straße 3 • D-56410 Montabaur
Phone: +49 (0)2602 950-9915 • Fax: +49 (0)2602 950-9917
E-mail: hm(at)additiv-pr.de • Internet: www.additiv-pr.de