Scana Steel Björneborg

Managing director: Ingvar Winbo
Turnover: NOK 875 million

Scana Steel Björneborg refines steel in an integrated chain that includes its own steelworks, heat treatment, forge with a 4,500 tonne press and several well-equipped machining units. The company’s customers are dominant players in their market areas who have stringent requirements for specifications and quality.

Scana Steel Björneborg was founded more than 350 years ago, which makes it one of the group’s most prestigious companies – not to mention one of the oldest ironworks in the world. The company is located in Björneborg, east of Karlstad in Sweden. The company became part of the Scana group in 1993 and has since developed and expanded its activities through significant investments and the development of new products.

As at 31st December 2008, the company had 333 employees with a turnover of SEK 1,024 million, which is an increase of 21 per cent from 2007.

Market and customers

Scana Steel Björneborg exports 70 per cent of its turnover. Europe is the largest market, but exports also go to the USA as well as to other parts of the world.

The energy market segment will be particularly important in 2009. High demand in this segment will offset the reduced demand in other segments following the slowdown that started in 2008. The company has implemented a series of measures to increase sales and reduce costs that should take effect in 2009 and 2010.

Products

The company’s main products are forged, rotation symmetrical, long and thin components with a high technical content. It also supplies raw forged and semi-finished billets. Scana Steel Björneborg supplies products to market segments such as the marine, offshore, energy, machinery and steel sectors. The company’s main products are shafts, rotors, risers and joints, as well as forged steel for tool manufacturers.

The company’s products are often key components for the customers. Scana Steel Björneborg supplies components with different degrees of completion, depending on the customers’ requirements. The company emphasizes research and development to further strengthen the quality of its products and has an ongoing cooperation with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm.

The company has several ongoing investments where the expansion of the steelworks and a new manipulator for the forge are among the larger ones. In the first phase, completed during June 2009, the steelworks was enlarged by 900 square metres and the production capacity expanded from 75,000 to 95,000 tonnes. In phase two, the capacity will be further expanded to 115,000 tonnes. The new manipulator will commence operation in August 2009. These investments in new equipment will allow even more reliable production and the option to produce in higher volumes.