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in the value chain of renewable energies such as biofuel , biopower , geothermal , offshore wind and carbon capture and storage .”
Electrification A building block of the global trend for sustainability is electrification , not only for EV but also for industrial power . Mr . Björkman : “ Most of the industrialised heat treatments are gas-fueled . Our Kanthal company is an expert on electrical heating supporting the gasto-electric trend , including for intensive energy consumers such as the steel and cement industries .” The energy transition and the renewables sector are moving much faster than governments and legislation can keep up with , explains Mr . Björkman . “ The market is driven by demand from end-users and consumers . While energy efficiency plays a role , companies and consumers will not use less energy in the future , so they need to have access to different energy sources . Electrification is a big part of that . The solution is to do the right thing for the planet while also being profitable . For Alleima , that ’ s no conflict whatsoever : sustainability is good business !”
High-tech innovators With a history dating back 160 years , Alleima has recipes for 900 alloys to its name , a unique position in this industry . “ Recycling is in our DNA ; we ’ ve been doing this for over 100 years ,” explains Mr . Björkman . “ Our stainless alloys contain 82 % recycled scrap , and we utilise machine learning and artificial intelligence to maximise the quality and quantity of recycled material in every melt . We can certify every batch to show customers the exact percentage of recycled product in each heat .” Alleima is not a traditional steel company , as it produces a relatively low volume of specialised , high-value alloys . “ We ’ re a leading niche company producing premium products in advanced stainless steels and special alloys . Our broad customer base over many industry segments protects us from market volatility . For example , when the oil and gas prices crashed in 2021 , we still had a very profitable year .” “ When I joined the company 32 years ago , analysts questioned the need for our extensive and costly research divisions . However , being fully integrated remains
Alleima ’ s stainless alloys contain 82 % recycled scrap .
one of our greatest strengths . We have strong R & D and metallurgy teams and a uniquely global footprint . Most of our sales are made directly through our own sales organisation . Our financial performance demonstrates that we are a leading performer in our industry , and I ’ m very positive about the exciting future ahead of us .”
Tube division : a true knowledge partner The Tube division makes up almost 70 % of Alleima ’ s business and 3,600 of the company ’ s 5,500 employees work in this area . Head of the Tube division Michael Andersson explained how it
Alleima has a large , application-oriented R & D organization .
serves the market with tubular products in stainless and special alloys , and long products such as bars and mining products . “ Being launched as an independent company under a new name is an exciting change . Our customers will feel the new level of energy in the company , but in terms of business execution , they will not see any change .” The Tube division is strong in industry segments such as industrial , ( petro ) chemical , oil and gas , power generation and mining . From this robust platform , the division is now prioritising the development of future solutions for the sustainable energy transition .
6 Stainless Steel World Annual Procurement Report 2022