Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI) was recently awarded a contract by Sollac Méditerranée, a company of the Arcelor group, to supply a new high-duty downcoiler for their existing Hot Rolling Mill at Fos sur Mer, France.

With the new four-wrapper roll-type downcoiler, Sollac Méditerranée will broaden their range of dimensions of pipe steel grades for the petrochemical industry. The new facility will be capable of producing API X70 at strip thicknesses up to 25.4 mm and widths up to 1,850 mm.

VAI’s scope of supplies and services includes the hydraulic coiler with automatic step control, new fully hydraulic sideguides, and hydraulic pinch roll unit with specific three-roll configuration.

Start-up of the mill is scheduled for mid 2006.

Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau (VAI), a company of the listed VA Technologie AG, is one of the world’s leading engineering and plant-building companies for the iron, steel and aluminum industries with a multinational company structure and special focus on technology, automation and services. VAI achieved total sales of 1,160 million EUR in 2004 and employs approximately 3,400 people worldwide.

The listed VA Technologie AG (VA Tech) is a focused Technology and Service Company which provides value to customers over the entire plant life cycle. Leading international positions are held in Metallurgy, Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution and Infrastructure.

Following the announcement on December 10, 2004, by Siemens AG Österreich of a takeover bid for VA Tech, the extended period of acceptance terminated on February 25, 2005. The total of own and tendered shares to Siemens amounts to 97.15%. Consequently, one precondition for a takeover by Siemens has been fulfilled. However, until the anti-trust authorities in the EU and Canada approve the takeover, both VA Tech and Siemens are subject to a prohibition on the concentration process.