Swedish specialty steel producer SSAB Europe has announced that it will invest SEK 300 million ($33 million) over a two-year period in modernizing the production lines at its Hämeenlinna Tube Mill to increase the sales volumes of premium products, which are more profitable than standard products. A development program will be drawn up for the other mills and the investments regarding this will be dealt with separately at a later date.
As a result of the restructuring, the Lappohja Tube Mill will be closed gradually by the end of 2020. Lappohja Mill employs 115 persons. While there will be no workforce changes in 2018, the workforce will be gradually reduced in 2019-20. SSAB Europe will offer all Lappohja employees jobs at other SSAB Europe locations in Finland.
SSAB Europe has tube production in Hämeenlinna, Lappohja and Pulkkila as well as spirally welded tube fabrication in Oulainen and section production in Toijala.