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Page 7 - Best of STIL 2018 English
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commitment to heavy plate production in Ilsenburg and it proves that restructuring and safeguarding the future go hand in hand with us. It also expresses the ap- preciation and trust which the Executive Board, Group management and Super- visory Board have in the motivation, qualification and loyalty of the workforce at the site.
One example of our work to bolster our international activities is the expansion of the El Salto precision tube site in Mexico. We are evolving both in terms of volume and quality at the site and are responding to the demands of international custom- ers from the automobile industry. With- out wanting to name every investment and portfolio addition at this point, we are making good progress and are able to use the opportunities available thanks to our solid finances. Mannesmann Stain- less Tubes took over the French stainless steel manufacturer SOTEP. Salzgitter Hydroforming founded a joint venture in China with its partner Baolong in order to produce hydroforming components for chassis and bodywork parts. This allows us to directly serve European automobile manufacturers and their suppliers active on the Chinese market. As a Group which enjoys being at home in Lower Saxony, we are by no means averse to creative con- cepts. They just have to be well thought- out.
STIL: Employee development has also been in the spotlight. For instance, this year you once again took part in the “Vorstand meets Azubi” event. What was your verdict?
Prof. Fuhrmann: Really positive. Together with fellow Board mem-
bers Burkhard Becker and Michael Kieckbusch, we dedicated a full morn- ing to the event. I was delighted by the interested and wide-ranging nature of the questions the 21 trainees asked about the Group – and nothing was off limits. We spoke very openly and on an equal foot- ing. Their openness to nuanced thinking made the most lasting impression on us, in connection with their general positive outlook. This attitude, which is not only important for the company but also par- ticularly for every young person, should perhaps be considered and encouraged more than in times past. Events like this as well as the systematic implementation of our “YOUNITED” mission statement greatly contribute to the special corpo- rate culture which sets our Group apart. We are investing in the next generation because qualified and motivated specialist
Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann
personnel are an incredibly important prerequisite for remaining competitive in the long term.
STIL: Let’s move on to the influencing external factors: The USA is increasingly walling itself off, and the steel-related Business Units of the Salzgitter Group are already being confronted with high redirected import volumes into the EU market. How can the industry protect itself ?
Prof. Fuhrmann: Yes, we are currently experiencing quite rough times in the globe steel market! The most well-known example is the USA’s so-called “Chapter 232 Tariffs” which are designed to protect the country’s domestic steel industry.
The justification for this measure with national security concerns is. In my
view, not in line with the truth and not
in compliance with the WTO (WTO = World Trade Organization). Although the EU Commission is taking legal steps to defend itself against this move, there
is little prospect of success in the short term. Fortunately, it reacted both quickly and resolutely within its means and intro- duced safeguards. Since July 2018, quotas have applied based on the record imports of the years 2015 to 2017; and only when this level is exceeded will importers have to pay a tariff of 25 %. This measure has had a stabilizing effect and now has to
be extended in order to avoid damag-
ing diversion effects heading our way. Unabating import pressure on the EU will be sustained as other global market places also seal themselves off in response to US trade policy.
STIL: How do you view the effects of these trade diversions into the EU mar- ket?
Prof. Fuhrmann: Firstly, the EU market remains the most comparatively open market with high steel demand – there are lots of industries based here which re- quire our material as a vital starting point within their value creation chains. That’s why the European steel market is the first alternative to the sealed-off US market
for many exporters. This has resulted in extremely high import volumes from Tur- key, as well as from other countries which were unfamiliar suppliers, or low-vol- ume suppliers up to this point. Overall, steel imports in 2018 are at an absolutely record level!
The calls for a continuation of the safeguards – as recently expressed at the National Steel Summit in Saarbrücken – are therefore completely justified. To clar- ify: We are in favor of free and fair trade which has to take place on the basis of the same conditions applicable to all sides.
In this respect, we don’t need to shy away from any competition but defend our- selves against unfair and arbitrary trade practices. Our customers don’t ultimately benefit from these either because if an effective European steel industry ceased to exist, there would also be no more reason for dumping price offers from importers which don’t even cover costs. This would leave our customers open to blackmail and they would ultimately have to foot the bill for dependence.
Unfortunately, we have to assume that this phase of international trade disputes will likely continue for a while. The re-
 SALZGITTER INSIDE 7
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