core sector communique

ThyssenKrupp strengthens materials services in Central and Eastern Europe

Flame cutting specialist Techno-Stahl in Austria acquired

With effect from April 30, 2010 the ThyssenKrupp Group has bought all shares of Techno-Stahl Stahlgroßhandel und Brennschneidbetrieb GmbH, Vienna (Austria). The new acquisition is a flame cutting company with great technical expertise in the area of processed flat products. Its core business is the production of sheet metal and slab blanks by thermal cutting. It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be disclosed.

Techno-Stahl processes both standard and specialty materials. The company (2009 sales: €17.4 million/76 employees) will be assigned to the Materials Services business area under the management of ThyssenKrupp Materials Austria GmbH, Vienna. The seller is managing partner Edward Ferszt, who will stay with the company in the interests of continuity and safeguarding know-how.

Techno-Stahl operates mainly in Central and Eastern Europe, where it intends to grow further: The company currently serves customers in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Poland. Techno-Stahl will benefit in the future from the sales and procurement networks of the Materials Services business area.

The acquisition is subject to approval by the Austrian antitrust authorities.

With 500 locations in 40 countries, the Materials Services business area specializes in materials distribution, logistics and services, the provision of technical services as well as services for industrial plants and steel mills. In addition to rolled steel, stainless steel, tubes and pipes, nonferrous metals, specialty materials and plastics, Materials Services also offers services from processing and logistics to warehouse and inventory management through to supply chain and project management.