Ovako, the leading European producer of special steel products, has decided to invest in a new ring mill to meet the increased demand for bearing steel used in large wind turbines. The new mill will be built in connection with the Group’s existing ring mills at Hofors in Sweden and the value of the investment is close to EUR 8 million. Construction of the mill will take place during the second half of 2012.
The new ring mill will be Ovako’s sixth production line producing rings for the bearing industry. Ovako’s production of rings has increased in recent years, particularly concerning the larger dimensions. In May last year a new ring mill was commissioned for the production of 350–1,200 mm rings. The new mill will produce ring dimensions ranging from 500 to 3,500 mm. This will further expand Ovako’s dimension range from the current limit of 3,000 mm produced by the existing mills.
The need for larger rings in the bearing industry is a result of wind turbines increasingly being built at sea, which requires larger turbines.
“There will be a number of wind power projects in the next few years that will require larger rings,” says Rickard Qvarfort, President of the Business Area Tube and Ring at Ovako. “With the new mill, which is set to be operational during 2012, we will be able to meet the increasing market demand as a leading producer in the industry,” Qvarfort continues.
For further information, please contact Rickard Qvarfort, President, Business Area Tube and Ring, Ovako, tel. +46 (0)290 25 762
Ovako is a leading European producer of special long steel products for the heavy vehicle, automotive and engineering industries. Our production covers low alloy steels and carbon steels in the form of bars, tubes, rings and pre-components. The company has 14 production units and several sales companies in Europe and the US. Net sales are EUR 1,100 million and the company employs 3,000 people. The total steel production capacity is 1.3 million tonnes per year.