ArcelorMittal Opens New Tailored Blanks Facility in Slovakia
10/15/2013 - ArcelorMittal Tailored Blanks has opened a new production facility in Senica, Slovakia, capable of producing 4 million laser-welded blanks (LWBs) a year, to meet growing demand for steel for the automotive industry.
The site, which was officially opened on Friday 11 October 2013, is the third production facility at ArcelorMittal’s site in Senica. Its 55 employees will operate a blanking line, as well as two welding lines.
ArcelorMittal has invested €10m in the new facility which is strategically located at the heart of Europe, supplying major automotive manufacturers.
“This investment perfectly fits our strategy, in which automotive plays a key role,” said Flat Carbon Europe (FCE) CEO, Robrecht Himpe.
“Slovakia is the world’s number one car producer per capita, and ArcelorMittal has chosen to seize this growth opportunity by investing not only in Tailored Blanks Senica, but also next door in ArcelorMittal Gonvarri and ArcelorMittal Construction to satisfy the ever growing needs of our customers,” Tailored Blanks CEO, Philippe Baudon, told participants.
“Laser welded blanks allow the car manufacturers to reduce the overall weight and cost of their vehicles, while also improving their safety performance. In combination with hot stamping, laser welding is one of the key technologies used in S-in motion, our catalogue of steel solutions used in the latest generations of cars that are now becoming a reality,” said FCE chief marketing officer, Jean-Martin Van der Hoeven.
“ArcelorMittal is a front-runner in the development of new weight saving solutions, and tailored blanks are a perfect example of this,” Robrecht Himpe added. “The modern world needs innovative steel solutions – and ArcelorMittal is proud to supply them.”
The event was attended by 120 people — including Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, as well as C. Lepage and H. Wurth, Belgian and Luxembourg ambassadors to the country — who were offered a visit of the new facility.
ArcelorMittal’s Tailored Blanks division has 20 production sites around the world.
ArcelorMittal has invested €10m in the new facility which is strategically located at the heart of Europe, supplying major automotive manufacturers.
“This investment perfectly fits our strategy, in which automotive plays a key role,” said Flat Carbon Europe (FCE) CEO, Robrecht Himpe.
“Slovakia is the world’s number one car producer per capita, and ArcelorMittal has chosen to seize this growth opportunity by investing not only in Tailored Blanks Senica, but also next door in ArcelorMittal Gonvarri and ArcelorMittal Construction to satisfy the ever growing needs of our customers,” Tailored Blanks CEO, Philippe Baudon, told participants.
“Laser welded blanks allow the car manufacturers to reduce the overall weight and cost of their vehicles, while also improving their safety performance. In combination with hot stamping, laser welding is one of the key technologies used in S-in motion, our catalogue of steel solutions used in the latest generations of cars that are now becoming a reality,” said FCE chief marketing officer, Jean-Martin Van der Hoeven.
“ArcelorMittal is a front-runner in the development of new weight saving solutions, and tailored blanks are a perfect example of this,” Robrecht Himpe added. “The modern world needs innovative steel solutions – and ArcelorMittal is proud to supply them.”
The event was attended by 120 people — including Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, as well as C. Lepage and H. Wurth, Belgian and Luxembourg ambassadors to the country — who were offered a visit of the new facility.
ArcelorMittal’s Tailored Blanks division has 20 production sites around the world.
