VAI SIAS SAS has received a contract from Dofasco for the supply of an automatic surface inspection system to equip its coupled pickling/cold-mill facilities.

The investment is part of Dofasco’s multi-year Finishing Division Improvement Program, which included construction of a new pickle line in 2003 that has since been coupled with an existing cold mill. This work was followed by a major upgrade to a second coupled pickle line cold mill, as well as replacement of the acid regeneration plant. In mid-2004, Dofasco's Board of Directors approved $158 million for the second phase of the program, which will focus on upgrading the Hamilton facility’s galvanizing operations. When the program is completed in 2008, Dofasco will have invested approximately $700 million in its finishing assets to create a world-class division.

The surface inspection contract marks VAI’s fourth such order within a few months.

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 aluminium 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. VAI SIAS SAS is a French subsidiary of VAI.

The listed VA Technologie AG (VA TECH) is a focused Technology and Service Company that 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.