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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Finland-based Steel Company Enters North American Market, Opening Headquarters In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, And Toronto, Canada

11/19/2013
A Finnish-based steel company, Ruuki, launched itself into the North American market with the opening of its U.S. headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Canadian headquarters in Toronto, Canada.

One of the world's leading special steel manufacturers, Ruuki said it will bring its energy-efficient steel products to North American manufacturers involved in transportation, heavy lifting, mining and other demanding industrial applications.

"Ruukki needs to be close to customers to deliver the high level of service and help them find the best steel solutions for their applications," said Thomas Hörnfeldt, Senior Vice President, Special Steels and International Sales at Ruukki Metals. "North American customers can now benefit from high-strength Optim and wear-resistant Raex steel to improve the lifetime, load-bearing capacity and energy efficiency of their products. We are committed to building a strong position for Ruukki in North America and look forward to servicing customers who need the highly differentiated and proven steel we are known for."

While the Finnish-firm has sold steel products in the U.S. through an agent, opening facilities in Pittsburg and Toronto marks the company's aggressive, full-bore expansion into the North American market. The company will drive sales, marketing, technical customer service, technical support and its distribution network through its Pittsburgh and Toronto offices. Manufacturing and R&D will remain at its state-of-the-art steel works in Finland.

The company said its metals expertise lies in specialized steels developed with direct quenching technology that provides excellent mechanical properties such as superior surface hardness, core hardness and uniform toughness. Using high-strength and wear-resistant special steels, customers are able to design energy-efficient products with lighter structures, longer service life and higher payloads.

Ruukki will offer its two most popular steel products in North America: high-strength Optim and wear-resistant Raex steels. Optim steel helps manufacturers reduce energy costs of equipment, vehicles and other industrial products while gaining extra high-strength performance. Optim is ideal for frame structures in commercial vehicles, mobile machines, equipment booms and other heavy lifting equipment.

The company's other product line available in North America - Raex - is a wear-resistant steel with a hardness and impact toughness best suited for bucket trucks and containers, mining equipment, platform structures, feeders and other high-wear applications. With plate thicknesses ranging from 2 mm up to 80 mm, Raex wear plates can extend the lifespan of machinery, decrease wear in structural components and save costs.

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