Sandvik Materials Technology continues to restructure wire- and strip operations
Sandvik Materials Technology today initiated negotiations with the unions in Sweden to restructure the wire and resistance strip operations, which will enable a shift in the product mix toward more advanced and profitable products in key segments, such as the energy sector.
The restructuring will primarily affect production of wire and resistance strip in Hallstahammar, Sweden, which will be discontinued over the course of the next 18 months. In conjunction with this, efforts will be intensified to phase out wire products that are not sufficiently profitable or do not form part of the core business. The manufacturing of the remaining part of the wire product program will primarily be transferred from Hallstahammar to Sandviken, but some of the wire volume will also be moved to the wire-drawing plants in India (Hosur) and China (Shanghai).
In Sandviken, the parts of wire production that were destroyed in the fire in April 2011 will be rebuilt and fitted with more efficient technology. Production of resistance strip in Hallstahammar will also be relocated to Sandviken, with the aim of concentrating all strip manufacturing in Sweden to one location.
As a consequence of the planned changes, the workforce at Sandvik in Hallstahammar will gradually be reduced by 100 employees over the next 18 months. The aim is to manage the redundancy process in the best possible way.
"The restructuring is necessary to focus the product mix toward more advanced and profitable products. The planned measures also ensure that we conduct cost-efficient manufacturing and strengthen our position in key segments, such as the oil and gas- and nuclear power industry," says Jonas Gustavsson, President of the Sandvik Materials Technology business area.
As part of the restructuring of the strip operations, decisions were also taken during the fourth quarter 2011 to discontinue the production of die cutting products in England (Rugby) and production of springs in China (Qingdao). The production at these facilities, which in total have about 30 employees, will be consolidated into other strip units within Sandvik.
The measures form part of the Step Change Program announced by Sandvik Materials Technology in September 2011, which aims to raise the business area's profitability to a higher and more stable level and to strengthen the position in key segments. The restructuring costs are in line with what previously has been communicated.
Sandviken, 18 January 2012
Sandvik Aktiebolag (publ)