SSAB said in a statement that it intends to focus on premium tube products, which fetch a higher price than standard tubes.

As part of its plans, it will centralize production at the Hämeenlinna tube mill in Finland, where it will invest SEK300 million (US$33.1 million) to modernize production lines and improve efficiency. Meanwhile, it will begin winding down operations at its Lappohja tube mill, also in Finland, and close it by 2020.

“A development program will be drawn up for the other mills and the investments regarding this will be dealt with separately at a later date,” SSAB said. The company operates a third tube mill, a spiral-weld mill and a hollow structural sections mill at three other sites in Finland.

SSAB said the closing mill employs about 115 people, who will be offered jobs at other SSAB facilities.