FOCUS ON TUBE
Above : Ralf Brunnert , Vice President of SHE & Operation Services at BENTELER Steel / Tube and Carbon Neutral Tubes programme manager . Right : Ralf Göttel , CEO of the BENTELER Group .
structural and chassis components for German automotive manufacturers . BENTELER is one of the largest employers in Schwandorf . The internationally active group currently employs around 650 people at the Schwandorf site . The new expansion will also increase the number of employees .
The extension is due to be completed by January 2023 , with production expected to start in September 2023 . This is the third expansion within a few years . BENTELER expanded its production area in Schwandorf by around 50 % in October 2018 , and in October 2020 the group increased its production area by a further 7,500m ². With this latest expansion , the company is now investing once again in the production of battery trays in Germany as well as in the growth sector of electromobility .
New tube line investment
After two years of construction , BENTELER opened a new drawing line at its Paderborn steel tube mill in Germany on 22 June 2022 . It has invested a double-digit million euro sum into the new plant . With the commissioning , up to 50 jobs in parallel will be created at the new production facility for precision steel tubes . The Steel / Tube division is therefore strengthening the Schloss Neuhaus and Paderborn manufacturing cluster and expanding its market position in individual tube solutions for highly specialised applications in the automotive industry .
The new production line for welded tube applications has an annual capacity of 12,000 tons . A new , innovative infrastructure was created in the production hall for the drawing bench , which includes an integrated testing facility . More than 1,150 tons of concrete , around 31 tons of reinforcing steel and more than 1.7km of cable for supply lines weighing 7.7 tons have been installed over the past two years .
The tubes that BENTELER produces on the new line will predominantly be used in the automotive sector .
“ Products that function faultlessly and have a long service life are very important in the automotive sector because they ensure greater safety for vehicle occupants . Our precision tubes meet these expectations safely and reliably , for example thanks to their excellent surface quality . Their homogeneous microstructure and tight tolerances also ensure high stability in subsequent processing . This makes us the ideal partner for suppliers to the automotive industry ,” explained Christian Wiethüchter , CSO and COO , BENTELER Steel / Tube . “ We are delighted to strengthen Paderborn with this investment .”
Schwandorf plant expansion
BENTELER has also expanded the production area again at its Schwandorf ( Germany ) site , this time by around 11,500m ². The ground-breaking ceremony took place on 2 June 2022 .
The plant , part of BENTELER ’ s Automotive division , produces ( among other things ) battery trays for electric vehicles as well as other
Precision tubing at BENTELER .
BENTELER produces seamless and welded carbon steel tubes .
Sustainability champion
EcoVadis , one of the world ’ s largest providers of sustainability ratings , awarded its silver medal to BENTELER ’ s Steel / Tube Division in June 2022 . By improving from bronze to silver status , the company is now among the top 25 % of companies certified by EcoVadis in the “ Manufacture of basic iron and steel ” category .
“ We are delighted to receive this award , which is significant in terms of our strategy . The independent rating underlines our responsible actions and sustainable management , which are central components of our corporate policy . This confirms that , with our ‘ Carbon Neutral Tubes ’ initiative , we are on the right path to transformation as a CO₂-neutral manufacturer of steel tubes ,” said Ralf Brunnert , Vice President of SHE & Operation Services at BENTELER Steel /
36 | www . ismr . net | ISMR July / August 2022