Oil & Gas
August issue carried a special feature on Oil & Gas, including articles on Van Leeuwen Wheeler - a leading UK distributor of pipe, tube and bar products; RathGibson's continued expansion around the globe; Sandvik order from Kuwait Oil Company; ATCE 2010 to be held in Florence; and a rise in drilling activity points to increased confidence in the UK oil & gas industry.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 08/2010
Further expansion in Europe. Australia's SPF acquires Scanfit International
Stainless Pipe & Fittings Australia Pty Ltd has acquired leading UK piping stockist Scanfit International Ltd. As of June 14, the company will trade as SPF Scanfit Ltd. SPF also continues to expand its operations in Europe and in a separate development opened SPF Europe Srl in July to specifically meet the needs of the European and Mediterranean markets.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 08/2010
US stainless production up 77%
Sharp increase in cold rolled exports to the EU
US crude stainless steel production in May was 195,500 tonnes, 13.2% down on the record level of April. Compared to May of last year, however, production was up 39.9%. Cumulative production for the first five months of this year was 1,041,400 tonnes, 77.4% higher than in the same period of 2009. Trade data shows US stainless imports of hot rolled flat products up 72.6% in the first four months of this year, imports of cold rolled up 67.3%, but imports of long products down 3.9%. Exports of cold rolled almost doubled, exports of hot rolled were up 81.1%, and exports of long products up 46.6%.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 08/2010
Twin B-axis lathe does work of two 5-axis machining centres
German turning machine manufacturer launches new equipment. Index-Werke GmbH & Co KG is one of the largest leading turning machine manufacturers. The company was founded in 1914 and operates worldwide. It has introduced a new, twin-spindle mill-turn centre on which it is possible to machine, for example, the 5-axis elements of two compressor blades in both spindles at the same time. Alternatively, reverse-end 5-axis machining of a parted-off component can be carried out after synchronous pick-up in the second spindle. Sole UK agent for the German company is Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools of Gosport, Hampshire.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 08/2010
SMS Siemag order from Kazakhstan New ferrochrome works for TNK
SMS Siemag, Germany, has received an order from TNK Kazchrome JSC, Kazakhstan, to build a new ferrochrome works in that country. The works (Meltshop No. 4) will be erected at the Aktobe location. The planned annual production is around 440,000 tonnes of ferrochrome with high carbon content (HC FeCr). The melting unit will comprise four direct-current (DC) furnaces with a capacity of 72 MW each. Commissioning of the first furnace is scheduled for the end of 2012.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 08/2010
New agreement for ATI Ground-breaking new alloys
Allegheny Technologies Inc has signed a long term sourcing agreement with GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company, for the supply of ATI 718Plus® alloy. This is the newest nickel-based superalloy developed by ATI that is being manufactured into a variety of jet engine components. The agreement covers ATI 718Plus alloy products sold to GE Aviation and its suppliers by ATI Allvac. Meanwhile, ATI recently unveiled its new, game-changing titanium alloy for defence applications.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 08/2010
Segment operating profit up 58%
Allegheny Technologies sales up 8%
Allegheny Technologies Inc reported net income for the first quarter 2010 of $18.2m. Results included a non-recurring tax charge of $5.3m. Excluding this non-recurring tax charge, net income was $23.5m on sales of $899.4m. "Direct international sales increased to approximately 34% of first quarter 2010 sales. Today, ATI is more globally focused than at any other time in our history. Of note, our Flat Rolled Products segment achieved a record 35% of direct international sales in the first quarter 2010", said L. Patrick Hassey, chairman, president and ceo.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 06/2010
Economic recovery continuing 2010:
stronger year for ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal said that the economic recovery is continuing in-line with expectations and 2010 is set to be a stronger year for the group. The year has started with improved demand in all main markets, which will have a positive impact in the second quarter. Stainless Steel segment crude steel production increased, sales remained flat, and higher steel shipments were partially offset by lower average steel selling prices. Operating performance improved and higher profitability resulted mainly from improved market conditions driven by higher nickel prices.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 06/2010
Jacquet Metals strategy bears fruit
International development
improves position
In a difficult environment, Jacquet Metals' strategy has borne fruit with a positive trend in results since quarter three. The strategy of international development has led to the launch of eight service centres since 2007, bringing the number of distribution platforms in the group to 21. This strategy has helped to win significant market share, namely in North America and Asia, where the group achieved 17% of its turnover in 2009, compared to less than 2% in 2006.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 05/2010
Schenk Stahl at Tube 2010
Extensive experience
and innovative product range
Schenk Stahl GmbH has been in demand for more than 20 years when it comes to meeting requirements for all things pertaining to heat resistance, and for good reasons. The company has concerned itself exclusively with highly heat resistant grades and superalloys for the past 20 years - this is why in 1990 a warehouse was established in the Düsseldorf area for ferritic and austenitic tubes. The stock range was extended some 10 years ago to include nickel-base alloys.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 05/2010
Leading Indian company moves into UK DavyMarkham acquired by HDO
Sheffield-based, heavy engineering concern DavyMarkham has been acquired by India's leading engineering procurement and construction company, Hindustan Dorr-Oliver (HDO) Ltd, a subsidiary of IVRCL Infrastructures & Projects Ltd, which is involved in engineered solutions, technologies and EPC installations in liquid-solid separation applications. The acquisition provides HDO with an entry into the heavy engineering sector.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 04/2010
Tube & wire preview
wire 2010 and Tube 2010 on successful course
This preview of Tube 2010 and wire 2010, to be held in Düsseldorf, April 12-16, includes articles from some of this year's exhibitors, featuring the robust improvement programme at UKF Stainless; a new saw development from RSA; data M supporting the roll forming industry in the UK with the opening of its new head office; Macro Bars & Wires (India) supplying stainless wires since 1978; and the new Combilift forklifts which will be on display.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 03/2010
Acerinox group extends product range
Incorporates Duplex stainless grades
The Acerinox group has many years' experience in the production of special stainless steels, such as special ferritic grades, which already account for more than 30% of total production. Recently, the company has developed production of the main duplex grades for use in the stainless steel flat products market. Acerinox now offers a wide range of hot and cold rolled products in these grades which, the company says, can only be supplied by a limited number of companies around the world.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 02/2010
Eramet Alloys UK Ltd established Integrating Aubert & Duval UK
Eramet Alloys UK Ltd was established on January 1 of this year, and brings together Aubert & Duval UK Ltd and Erasteel (UK) Ltd. Aubert & Duval and Erasteel are both parts of the Eramet Alloys division of the Eramet Group. The relocation of the Aubert & Duval UK offices to Sheffield in 2006 created an opportunity to bring the UK sales teams of both companies under one umbrella with the Erasteel UK operations also being based in Sheffield.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 02/2010
US production up 30% in November Demand down 35.2% in first ten months
US stainless production, which fell in October to just 119,600 tonnes, 36.4% down on the previous month, jumped by 30.3% in November to 155,800 tonnes. This brought cumulative production for the first 11 months of 2009 to 1,515,500 tonnes, 18.4% down on the same period of the previous year. US demand fell sharply in October to just 101,900 tonnes, a drop of 16.5% compared to the previous month. Demand for the first ten months of last year was 35.2% down on the same period of the previous year at 1,034,400 tonnes.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 02/2010
Nine months production drop
Recovery in quarter three
Preliminary figures released by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) show that world stainless steel production decreased by 15% in the first nine months of 2009 when compared to the same period of 2008. However, production figures for the third quarter show an increase of 12.5% when compared to the same quarter in 2008. Stainless steel production began to show a recovery in the third quarter of 2009. Most regions strongly increased their production levels during this period. Overall production increased by 12.5% in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the corresponding period the previous year.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 02/2010
German orders recover in December
Production down 17.7% year on year
German stainless steel order income, which fell to just 67,300 tonnes in November, recovered sharply, by 28.5%, in December to 86,500 tonnes, according to provisional figures. Quarter four orders at 227,400 tonnes were nevertheless 32.4% down on the previous quarter. Orders for the full year 2009 at 1,077,600 tonnes were, again according to provisional figures, down 8.7% compared to the previous year. German stainless steel production during the first eleven months of 2009 totalled 1,257,700 tonnes, down 17.7% compared to the January to November period of 2008.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 02/2010
ArcelorMittal Stainless sales higher
First signs of recovery in Q3
Total steel shipments in the Stainless Steel segment were slightly lower at 354,000 tonnes for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared with 363,000 tonnes for the three months ended June 30, 2009. Sales were higher at $1.1 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared with $1.0 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2009, primarily due to higher prices (a 13.9% increase in the average steel selling price), which more than offset lower volumes. The segment recorded operating income of $51m for the three months ended September 30, 2009 compared with an operating loss of $64m for the three months ended June 30, 2009.
More in Stainless Steel Focus 01/2010