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Press Release
Investments amounting to 35 million euros for
Saarschmiede GmbH Freiformschmiede at the Völklingen location
Saarschmiede GmbH Freiformschmiede is one of the most significant open die forges worldwide. It is market leader in the field of power engineering, for example, with the products heavy turbine and generator shafts for power stations. In addition, it is an internationally recognised supplier in the field of mechanical engineering, for example with high pressure containers and spin casting moulds as well as products manufactured from special materials for the aviation and space industry, for example, for parts of the booster rockets for the Ariane 5 rocket.
In a meeting that took place on 20.09.2006, the Supervisory Board of Saarstahl AG took the decision to invest an additional 35 million euros in the Saarstahl subsidiary, Saarschmiede GmbH Freiformschmiede, at the Völklingen location.
The individual investments will be made in the following equipment: a 4,000 T press, a rail mounted forging manipulator, a freely movable forging manipulator, several forging and annealing furnaces as well as lathes and crane systems.
The new investments are essentially aimed at increasing the efficiency of the existing facilities as well as allowing specialisation in production. Hence, Saarschmiede GmbH Freiformschmiede is able to implement its existing production programme more economically and to offer increased diversification. Furthermore, it has also been able to open up new markets in the field of aviation and space technology.
Dr. Klaus Harste, Member of the Board of Management at Saarstahl AG, commented:
"Global energy consumption will continue to increase sharply over the next two decades. These investments, which are oriented towards the growing demand in the power engineering sector, will enable Saarschmiede to keep pace with the rapid increase in demand and thus to further strengthen its leading position on the market. The new facilities will enable us to continue to commit ourselves, in future too, to our customers’ most demanding projects and requirements. In the product range of special materials for aviation and space technology, we want to present ourselves even more competitively and to continue to expand our position on the market. This comprehensive investment programme will make a decisive contribution towards securing existing jobs at the Völklingen location of Saarschmiede and even allow the creation of new jobs in line with growth.”
Völklingen, 21.09.2006
Saarstahl AG, Zentralbereich Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, 66330 Völklingen,
Telephone: + 49 68 98·10 21 12 | Fax: + 49 68 98·10 40 14 | E-Mail: saarstahl@saarstahl.com
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Press Release
Annual General Meeting on 28.06.2006:
Positive Development of Operating Results for Saarstahl AG in the Financial Year 2005
Financial Year 2005
"The economic development at Saarstahl AG in the year 2005 was positive, just as in the previous year. The financial year was characterised by good revenues. One of the decisive factors here was the continuation of Saarstahl’s business policy of ensuring and increasing product quality, focusing on customer requirements and price developments, in spite of decreasing quantities. On the other hand, there were also cost increases in 2005", commented Claude Kintz, Chairman of the Board of Saarstahl AG at the ordinary Annual General Meeting on 28.06.2006.
In 2005, Saarstahl AG was able to further secure its market share for the company’s major products – free-cutting steels, tyre cord, cold-heading grades, pre-stressed steel and bar steel for the automotive industry.
The production of crude steel increased in the year 2005 by 2.5 % compared with 2,716 m t in 2004 to 2,785 m t; sales increased by 8.6 % from €1,413 m in 2004 to €1,534 m in 2005.
Parallel to this, material requirements increased in the year 2005 by € 79 m (9 %) to € 982 m (2004: € 903 m).
The company’s operating profit amounts to € 130 m, an increase of € 65 m compared with 2004.
The workforce decreased by 55 employees in 2005 to 5,149 employees. At the same time, the number of apprentices and trainees increased from 279 to 296. Saarstahl AG is one of the main companies providing training in the Saarland.
Mr Kintz said, "It was also possible to achieve continuation of the positive development of the operating result from 2004 in 2005, in particular due to the high level of commitment, the competence and flexibility of the employees in all areas of the company”.
Outlook for the Financial Year 2006
The development for the financial year 2006 continues to be positive. “Taking the overall economic situation into account, we anticipate that, in the next few months, there will be a continuation of the positive development in production and shipping quantities. However, there will be a further rise in the cost of raw materials due to price increases for ores and alloys", Claude Kintz remarked.
The course of the financial year will be decisively influenced by the economic developments in the European automotive and automotive supplier industries since these constitute Saarstahl AG’s main sales market. In the steel manufacturing and processing industry, cyclical fluctuations and the effect which these have on operating profit are to be expected on a regular basis. For this reason, Saarstahl AG will take additional measures to increase productivity and quality in order to strengthen its competitive capacity. Besides continuous investment, the company’s profitability is to be sustainably strengthened by the programme for continually improving the operating profit.
Through its state-of-the-art equipment and further processing areas as well as through the high degree of research and investment, Saarstahl AG is continuing on its path to consistently extend its production program and orient it towards superior grades which fulfil the highest demands.
Völklingen, 28.06.2006
Saarstahl AG, Zentralbereich Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, 66330 Völklingen,
Telephone: + 49 68 98·10 21 12 | Fax: + 49 68 98·10 40 14 | E-Mail: saarstahl@saarstahl.com
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Press Release
Reappointment of Dr. Klaus Harste as a Member of the Board
In a meeting which took place on 15.03.2006, the Supervisory Board of Saarstahl AG reappointed Dr. Klaus Harste as a Member of the Board of Saarstahl AG for a further 5 years for the period from 11.12.2006 to 10.12.2011.
Dr. Harste (50) has been a Member of the Board since 11.12.2001 and is responsible for the Engineering and Technology department.
Völklingen, 15.03.2006
Saarstahl AG, Zentralbereich Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, 66330 Völklingen,
Telephone: + 49 68 98·10 21 12 | Fax: + 49 68 98·10 40 14 | E-Mail: saarstahl@saarstahl.com
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Press Release
Saarstahl takes over wire drawing plants in France
In a meeting on 20.01.2006, the Supervisory Board of Saarstahl AG took the decision to submit a takeover bid for plants in Conflandey and Port d’Atelier belonging to Tréfileries de Conflandey S. A. which is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
On 31.01.2006, the court took the decision to accept the takeover bid from Saarstahl AG which comes into force from 01.02.2006.
The company belongs to the Conflandey Group, a group with global operations whose main product is clamping and binding wires. The production plants are located in Eastern France. The production volume amounts to approx. 70,000 t/year with a workforce of around 300.
The two production plants are an addition to the further processing subsidiaries of the Saarstahl group in the field of the manufacture of soft drawn iron wires of thin dimensions, both zinc and copper-plated.
Together with its new subsidiary, Saarstahl AG will also continue to develop products for specific applications for this product range in future.
Völklingen, 31.01.2006
Saarstahl AG, Zentralbereich Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, 66330 Völklingen,
Telephone: + 49 68 98·10 21 12 | Fax: + 49 68 98·10 40 14 | E-Mail: saarstahl@saarstahl.com
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