Expansion of steel service centre in Ostrava (Czech Republic)

As part of its development strategy in Central & Eastern Europe, ArcelorMittal invests in a new cut to length line for hot rolled coils in Ostrava. With a processing capacity of 250,000 tons per year, this facility will strengthen the existing network of ArcelorMittal’s SSC operations located in Poland and Slovakia, as well as its existing operations in Ostrava.

The line, which will cost 18 million US$, will start operating in mid-2008 to meet the growing demand for quality sheets in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and South-East Germany. It complements the ongoing debottlenecking of Ostrava’s hot rolling mill. This equipment will be located next to the two cut to length lines which already operate in Ostrava, taking the de-coiling capacity to a total of 400,000 tons. This unique location will allow the new SSC to benefit from significant logistics and cost competitiveness.

Philippe Darmayan, CEO of ArcelorMittal Steel Solutions and Services, and Vijay Bhatnagar, CEO for Eastern Europe, declared that this project was another key element of ArcelorMittal’s strategic development plan in Central and Eastern Europe, as part of their drive towards quality and service leadership.