Saarstahl Ascoval and Saarstahl Rail: Investing in a sustainable future

The French plants Saarstahl Ascoval and Saarstahl Rail are playing an important strategic role within the SHS/Saarstahl Group with the production of low-carbon steel and high-quality infrastructure products for the mobility revolution. The Group has already approved an investment volume of around EUR 7 million this year for the two French sites and is planning further investment. The SHS-/Saarstahl Group, which employs about 1,500 people in France, is also seeking to position itself as an attractive employer in this region as well.

“The investment of roughly EUR 7 million in the plants of Saarstahl Ascoval and Saarstahl Rail shows that we are leading the two plants into a modern and economically successful future,” said Dr. Klaus Richter, Chief Technology Officer of Saarstahl and President of Saarstahl Ascoval and Saarstahl Rail. “Our long-term goal is to produce top-quality carbon-neutral steel at the Saint-Saulve site, despite the sharp increase in energy costs, and to position Saarstahl Rail as a key plant for sustainable products for the mobility revolution. Since taking over the mills in August, we have already been able to significantly improve shift output and thus boost performance. We thank the French government for its close cooperation and support in realigning the plants.” The approximately EUR 7 million will be used to modernize the plants and for various projects that boost efficiency. Additional investments for 2022 are currently being planned.

Highly trained specialists are the key to meeting future challenges for the SHS/Saarstahl Group. Saarstahl Ascoval and Saarstahl Rail will therefore position themselves in the future as strong employers and focus on training their own junior employees. Starting in September, a total of 35 apprentices and dual (work-study) students at the two sites in Hayange and Saint Saulve (North), France, will have the chance to start their future careers with the SHS/Saarstahl Group. Both companies offer young people starting their careers up-to-date training in the areas of IT, production and maintenance. Saarstahl Rail and Saarstahl Ascoval also offer interesting conditions for experienced professionals and have, for example, announced attractive job openings for maintenance and production employees.