PRESS RELEASE
January 30, 2009 at 2 p.m.
Outokumpu and Italian Acciaierie Valbruna S.p.A, have signed a non-exclusive patent and trademark license agreement, which grants Valbruna the right to use Outokumpu's LDX 2101 duplex stainless steel grade in all long products, such as bar, rebar and wire products in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland.
Lean Duplex grade LDX 2101, a low-nickel, high-strength stainless steel developed and patented by Outokumpu, was commercially introduced in 2002 and has met with great success in demanding applications. To further facilitate the market penetration of Lean Duplex, Outokumpu has awarded manufacturing licenses to stainless steel producers in Europe and Asia.
Tommy Grahn, Senior Vice President and head of Outokumpu Long Products business unit comments: "Demand for duplex grades grows faster than that of standard stainless grades. We are pleased to have Acciaierie Valbruna as an important partner in Europe to promote the duplex market and support customers in the utilization of this unique material."
Massimo Amenduni Gresele, Managing Director of Acciaierie Valbruna declares: " Thanks to a long term relationship between Outokumpu and us, there is now from Valbruna an alternative to the austenitic 304 grade, especially in terms of the price stability due to the low nickel content.We foresee a bright future for it, especially in projects, which require a long completion time. Furthermore, Valbruna can supply the widest range of long products, which are able to fulfil all possible needs of the market thanks to its production of rebar, wire rod, wire, billets, ingots, round, hexagonal, flat, square, and angle bars."
For more information please contact:
Tommy Grahn, SVP, Outokumpu, Long Products, tel. +358 40 748 6602
Massimo Amenduni Gresele, Acciaierie Valbruna, Managing Director, tel. +39 348 3147024
Valbruna Stainless Steel, leader in the steel industry and both supplier and producer of stainless steel and special metal alloys is a privately owned company with over 2000 employees and a production of more than 180.000 tons of Stainless Steels, Nickel Alloys and Titanium long products. Founded in 1925, Valbruna Stainless Steel maintains its original business strategy of serving niche markets with a very wide range of 700 special steels, 3 Production sites and 40 Distribution Units all over the world. www.valbruna-stainless-steel.com
Outokumpu is a global leader in stainless steel. Our vision is to be the undisputed number one in stainless, with success based on operational excellence. Customers in a wide range of industries use our stainless steel and services worldwide. Being fully recyclable, maintenance-free, as well as very strong and durable material, stainless steel is one of the key building blocks for sustainable future. Outokumpu operates in some 30 countries and employs more than 8 000 people. The Group's head office is located in Espoo, Finland. Outokumpu has been listed on the Helsinki stock exchange since 1988. www.outokumpu.com.
