Salzgitter now integrating the Mannesmann brand name

The new Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH marks the expansion of international tubes activities

“Steel goes to steel“ was the word in the year 2000, when the renowned Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG was taken over by Salzgitter AG, thereby forming one of the Group’s five corporate divisions. Now the integration is becoming even tighter: The brand name and the Mannesmann products will be integrated into the trading area as of January 1, 2005.

In future, the former Salzgitter Handel GmbH will be trading as Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH.

With this step the Salzgitter Group is combining the sales of tubes products with worldwide trading activities. In 2004, Salzgitter Handel employed around 1,300 members of staff and generated sales of € 2 billion.

Under the roof of Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel some 20 trading companies and agencies worldwide will be renamed and integrate the Mannesmann product brand name. In the stockholding European steel trade area, the companies in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania will be operating under the new name.

In key oil producing countries Salzgitter Mannesmann International will be marketing the large diameter pipes of the world market leader Europipe. Mannesmann Line Pipe and Röhrenwerk Gebr. Fuchs – the companies active in the medium-diameter pipes area – will be making increased use of the Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel Group sales channels. With this step the Trade division will be realizing an expansion of its business volume.

Wolfgang Leese, chairman of the Salzgitter AG management board, commented on the name change: “The integration of these business activities is a further addition to the Group’s strategic orientation, in which the process chain starting with the manufacture of tubes is extended by the sales and external representation.“

The Salzgitter Group comprises well over 80 national and international subsidiaries and holding companies. The Group ranks among Europe’s leading steel corporations. The consolidated Group employees a workforce of some 18,000 employees. The anticipated sales volume fort he 2004 business year is in the region of € 5.5 billion.