15.10.2010

SSAB expands in China

Swedish Steel company SSAB is to add a research and development facility to its Kunshan, China plant.

The R&D facility is part of a larger investment in a finishing line at Kunshan, which will cut, blast and paint semi-finished plates from Sweden and the US based on customer orders. The existing plate centre will also be equipped as a Hardox wear parts centre. The finishing line is expected to be brought into commission in the middle of 2011. The total investment amounts to SEK 320 million ($49 million).

The new R&D centre will focus on workshop expertise and application development of high strength steels. Chinese customers will receive training on how to use the material in the best way to enhance production efficiency and benefit from SSAB’s customer project experience to improve product structural design. It is expected to begin operations in the third quarter 2011.

Martin Pei president of SSAB APAC said: “SSAB has the products and knowledge to build a much stronger position in China and the rest of Asia. Our view on knowledge sharing has proven to be very successful. We not only provide our clients with material, but also focus on customer care and support. We want to help our clients push the limits of what is possible”.