EoW January 2009

english corporate news

Tata Steel looks to buy wire firms Tata Steel is said to be looking to acquire wire manufacturing companies in Europe to boost the capacity of Corus. Anglo-Dutch steel-maker Corus, which was acquired by the Tata Group company, manufactures wire rods. A senior executive of Tata Steel said the move is in tandem with the group’s plan to become the third largest player in the wires segment. Tata Steel has been following a new strategy, where the primary product is manufactured closer to the rawmaterial site, while the finished product will be closer to the market. The wire division is a strategic business unit of Tata Steel and the company also operates a subsidiary in Sri Lanka. Tata Steel’s Tarapur and Jamshedpur plants together manufacture 300,000 tons of wire, which is being increased to 450,000 tons. “The capacity increase would be completed by the first quarter of the next financial year,”said the executive. Tata Steel’s global wire business is run by entities such as Tata Steel Wire Division, India, The Siam Industrial Wire, Thailand, Wuxi Jinyang Metal Products, China, Indian Steel and Wire Products, India, and Lanka Special Steel, Sri Lanka.

Decatur ETFE expansion

Sir technology Rautomead Ltd and a founder of the business in 1978, has appointed Brian Frame as the company’s new managing director. Rautomead’s field is the development of continuous casting equipment for the production of non-ferrous metals, with over 300 Rautomead continuous casting installations in service in 47 countries around the world. Speaking of the appointment, Sir Michael Nairn said: “I am delighted to welcome Brian Frame to Rautomead. He has a strong technical background with international experience and comes to Rautomead fromTexol Technical Solution plc, where he has been managing director for the past eight years.” specialists, Daikin America Inc has announced its newest plant expansion for ETFE polymer capacity will be located in Decatur, Alabama, doubling its current capacity and creating at least 25 new jobs in the Decatur area. ETFE (Ethylene TetraFluoroEthylene copolymer) is a strategic resin in wire and cable, in chemical and low vapour permeation, and in light, transparent protective film applications. ETFE’s cut-through and abrasion resistance makes it an ideal resin for wire insulation for airframe, military, and ‘ down hole ’ oil field applications. Its resistance to chemical attack and good barrier properties make ETFE an option for low gas permeation applications. Its high transparency to light and UV and its weatherability make ETFE useful in film applications such as Photovoltaic cell protection. ETFE use is increasing in mass transit cabling, and select automotive applications. Engineering for the new unit has begun and construction will be completed by first quarter of 2010. Daikin America – USA Website : www.daikin-america.com Michael Nairn, chairman of Scottish-based continuous casting

Tata Steel – India Website : www.tatasteel.com

NewMD for Scotland’s Rautomead

Brian Frame is Rautomead’s newMD ▲ ▲

Rautomead – UK Fax : +44 1382 622941

Email : sales@rautomead.com Website : www.rautomead.co.uk

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EuroWire – January 2009