Sandvik Steel and RGB Stainless to merge

Sandvik Steel UK is AB Sandvik Steel's sales unit in the UK responsible for stainless and specialty steel tube, pipe, fittings, bar, hollow bar, strip, wire and welding consumables.

RGB Stainless Ltd - one of the UK's leading stockholders and distributors of stainless steel and high alloy tube, pipe, fittings, flanges, bar, sheet, plate and aluminium sections - has been part of the Sandvik Group for over five years, during which time, it has operated independently.

The new merged company will be known as Sandvik Steel and will incorporate RGB Stainless with the clear aim of developing a stronger Sandvik presence in the UK market for tubular and bar products, fittings and flanges. The new company will combine the stockholding, distribution and package building skills of RGB Stainless with Sandvik Steel's technical expertise in the supply of speciality steels from its worldwide production units. It will mean a broader product range from one source and, it is claimed, will provide customers with the best combined commercial and technical offering available from a UK supplier.

Sune Eriksson, European Sales and Marketing Director for AB Sandvik Steel says, "We see this as an extremely positive development for all our customers, providing many benefits from bringing together two service - minded organisations. We are planning for the merger to be completed early in 2003, when the RGB Stainless sales operation will transfer to Sandvik's UK head office at Halesowen in the West Midlands. We intend to make the transition as smooth as possible, with no disruption in day to day business."