Nov. 13, 2006 — UGITECH USA has announced plans to build a greenfield bar processing and distribution facility in Batavia, Ill.

The recent acquisition of UGITECH as a part of a global expansion made this year by Schmolz + Bickenbach has paved the way for this state-of-the-art facility. Expected to start delivering product by the third quarter of 2007, the new facility will produce two of the company’s existing proprietary technologies, UGIMA XL^(TM) family of stainless machining grades, and SMQ^(TM) (Screw Machine Quality) bar.

"This new bar processing and distribution facility will significantly improve our material replacement time and offer additional value-added services to our customers," said President and CEO Daniel O'Donnell.

UGITECH USA is a North American distribution arm of UGITECH, a Stainless and Nickel Alloys Long Products division of Schmolz + Bickenbach AG. UGITECH USA has been directly servicing the US market with six stocking locations since 1990.

UGITECH is a company within Schmolz + Bickenbach stainless steel activity that is specialized in stainless steel and nickel alloy long products (semis, bars, wire rod and drawn wires). Its main markets are the process, automotive, construction and food processing industries. UGITECH is headquartered in Ugine (Savoie, France) and globally employs more than 2000, mainly in Europe (primarily in France, Germany and Italy) and in the USA.

The Schmolz + Bickenbach group is a fast-growing producer, processor and distributor of specialty and stainless steels in long product form (bar, wire rod, and drawn wire) with the highest level of service to customers. Schmolz + Bickenbach has a global workforce of approximately 10,000 at more than 50 locations in Western and Eastern Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia and Asia. The Schmolz + Bickenbach group operates a large sales network present in more than 25 countries with annual sales of more than 4 billion euros. The company is headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany.