Salzgitter AG investing double-digit million sum in North Rhine-Westphalia

• Hot straightener for the future "wind" market
• One of the largest single investments at the Mülheim an der Ruhr site
• Construction of the new plant to kick off as from 2026

It was upbeat news for the Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech GmbH plant in Mülheim an der Ruhr. The Supervisory Board and Executive Board of Salzgitter AG gave the final green light for the construction of a new hot straightening machine – one of the largest single investments ever committed to this site. The Austrian company Buma Engineering & Anlagenbau GmbH was selected as the partner for the construction of the hot straightener. This investment will expand sheet metal processing capabilities and improve access to new applications and markets, particularly in the energy infrastructure area. The new hot straightening machine is scheduled for commissioning in the summer of 2026 and will enable the production of particularly thick sheets for energy infrastructure applications such as offshore foundation structures.
 
In addition, the sheet metal logistics have been newly optimized so that sheets up to 24 meters long will already be available for the construction of wind towers as from this summer. The first project for a renowned wind tower manufacturer has already been booked.
 
Gunnar Groebler, Chairman of the Executive Board of Salzgitter AG, commented as follows: "The energy transition cannot succeed without high-performance steel products. The expansion of the entire energy infrastructure comprising the generation, transmission and storage requires steel. With its heavy plate specialists Ilsenburger Grobblech and Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech, the Salzgitter Group ranks as a full-range supplier in the wind sector. The investment in the hot straightener is further proof that we are continuously investing in our business activities in order to maintain our competitive strengths and open up future markets."
 
Hans-Jaan Rachner, Managing Director Technology Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech GmbH: "The special feature of this order for the expansion of renewable energy is that the wind towers are made from CO₂-reduced slabs from electric steel production and thereby represent a further visible sign of sustainability at our company. Thanks to this investment, we at Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech will be able to establish a further foothold in the wind sector and thereby open up avenues for convincing new customers of our high-quality products."
 
Harald Krenn, Managing Director of Buma Engineering & Anlagenbau GmbH: "We are delighted to have received this order from Salzgitter Mannesmann Grobblech GmbH. The machine's variable and customer-specific concept covers a wide range of sheet metal products and will significantly expand the existing straightening capacities."