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Outokumpu Opens Service Center in Kunshan, China
06/02/2010 - Outokumpu has inaugurated a new service center in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China, that will support the Group's strategy of expanding operations in Asia. The Kunshan service center has an annual capacity of about 30,000 tonnes of stainless steel.
Outokumpu has inaugurated a new service center in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China, that will support the Group's strategy of expanding operations in Asia and serving end-user and project customers with value-added special products.
The company notes that China is the world's fastest-growing market for stainless steel, citing analyst estimates that national demand for stainless steel will grow by more than 15% in 2010. Outokumpu's offering to the Chinese market consists mainly of special grades, especially duplex grades, developed for demanding applications in the energy, petrochemical, transportation and pulp and paper sectors.
"This is an important step in strengthening our position in Asia,” said CEO Juha Rantanen. “As we are now closer to our Chinese customers, we can provide both tailored deliveries and local support in material selection and technical specification. As the global leader in duplex grades, Outokumpu now has a good platform for future growth in China."
Outokumpu has had a presence in China since 1997 and has delivered stainless steel for use in chemical, petrochemical, and nuclear power plant facilities as well as chemical tankers and paper mills. Most of the stainless steel processed at the Kunshan service center is produced at the Group's Avesta and Degerfors sites in Sweden.
The Kunshan service center has an annual capacity of about 30,000 tonnes of stainless steel. Processing facilities include a cut-to-length line, a water-jet cutting machine, a plasma portal cutting machine, and a laser cutting machine. The investment totaled about EUR 20 million.
Outokumpu, a global leader in stainless steel, serves customers in a wide range of industries worldwide. The company employs about 7500 people in more than 30 countries.
