Schmolz + Bickenbach Expands Steel Network

A strong global presence is the motto behind the decision of Schmolz + Bickenbach International GmbH (Düsseldorf, Germany) to invest in expanding their global sales and services network in the important markets of America, Asia and Scandinavia. This long steel expert subsidiary of the Schmolz + Bickenbach Group (Chambly, France), is expanding their sales, warehouses and processing capacities to shore up their position as a reliable partner by providing local supply chain solutions with up to just-in-time deliveries of special steel products from their own production plants.

This expansion will strengthen their customer service in strategically relevant markets. Their sales offices will also push special steel from the group’s own production, including products from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke GmbH (Ludenscheid, Germany); A. Finkl & Sons Company (Chicago, IL); Steeltec Group (Germany); Swiss Steel AG (Lucerne, Switzerland); and Ugitech S.A. (France).

In Asia, the steel company opened a subsidiary in Tokyo in December 2015 to guarantee local customer support in Japan. They have also opened a new sales office in Bangkok that serves Thai customers in the automotive and electronics industry as well as in engineering. To meet the increasing demand of the automotive and plastic industry in China, a new warehouse for tool steel, including state-of-the-art sawing and milling technologies, was opened in Chongqing.

At the Indian sales and services location in Mumbai, they raised sawing capacities up to 2,600 mm blocks of tool steel. Target applications include interiors and exteriors for the automotive sector. The India facility has made them one of the most reliable suppliers of large tool steel blocks in the country. The activities at the Scandinavian sales and services location at Valkeakoski, Finland, focus on the precise manufacture and time-efficient delivery of stainless and engineering steels for shipbuilding, as well as for the energy industry. The site also has extended sawing capacities. Effective immediately, they also offer the entire range of dimensions in the processing of special engineering steel up to 800 mm.

Their presence at Queretaro responds to major developments in the automotive industry in Mexico, where local warehouse and processing capacities have doubled. This location is also strategically positioned close to plants of leading American, European and Japanese car makers.

Schmolz + Bickenbach is a leading provider of custom solutions in the special long steel products sector, among the leading manufacturers of tool steel and non-corrosive long steel on the global market, and one of the two largest companies in Europe for alloyed and high-alloyed constructional steel. With around 9,000 employees and in-house production and distribution companies in over 30 countries and on five continents, the company guarantees its customers a global supply and customer service, and offers a complete production portfolio as well as sales and services around the world.

www.schmolz-bickenbach.com