Apr 23 2004
BlueScope Steel Limited has commenced the construction of its new state-of-the-art flat steel metallic coating and painting facility at Suzhou Industrial Park in Jiangsu province, 80 kilometres west of Shanghai.
The wholly-owned operation is scheduled for completion in mid CY 2006 and will have metallic coating capacity of 250,000 tonnes and painting capacity of 150,000 tonnes per annum. The capital cost for this project is approximately A$280 million (to be spent primarily in FY2005 and 2006) - representing the Company's most significant investment in Asia since its public listing on the Australian Stock Exchange in July 2002.
The operation will provide employment for approximately 300 people and manufacture BlueScope Steel’s range of premium quality branded products, including Clean COLORBOND® steel, ZINCALUME® steel and TRUZINC® galvanised steel for domestic customers. The facility will also support the Company's own BlueScope Lysaght rollforming operations and its proposed acquisition of a downstream business, Butler Manufacturing (the world’s leading manufacturer and provider of pre-engineered steel building systems with a significant manufacturing presence in China).
At the groundbreaking ceremony at Suzhou Industrial Park today, President Asian Building and Manufacturing Markets, Mr Mike Courtnall, said: "When fully operational, this metallic coating and painting facility in Suzhou will enable us to respond more quickly to market developments and opportunities with tailored product offerings, to forge closer collaborative partnerships and provide better service for all our Chinese customers."
Mr Courtnall said: "The Company is focused on expanding its capability to provide steel solutions, including pre-engineered buildings and other high quality steel building materials to support the burgeoning building and construction markets in China."
BlueScope Steel has had a presence in mainland China for over a decade. Through its BlueScope Lysaght rollforming facilities and extensive network of Lysaght and coated coil sales offices, the Company has successfully developed a strong market with demand for its products in downstream building and construction applications in China.
For more information on steel