Stainless steel manufacturer, Thyssenkrupp Nirosta has filed a permit application to expand and relocate its cold rolling facility from Dusseldorf-Benrath to Krefeld.
The phased relocation of the facility is part of the company’s strategy to develop and optimize its production sites and increase its global competitiveness. The company plans to complete the relocation by 2016 supported by substantial investment. Thyssenkrupp expects to obtain permission for expansion and relocation by the end of this year.
Before the application, the company was involved in discussions with the North Rhine-Westphalia state agency for nature, environment and consumer protection, the Dusseldorf District Authority and the State Ministry for climate protection, nature, agriculture and environment of North Rhine-Westphalia. The discussions were followed by assessment of impact on important aspects such as the quality of air surrounding the facility. The company first presented the project to the neighbours in the vicinity of the facility and has also involved citizens of Krefeld where they will be able to study the project in detail. The preliminary demolition of the building complex located as part of the site has already commenced and is likely to be completed by the summer of 2012.
The Nirosta Ferritic Optimisation project aims to expand the production capacity of its ferritic stainless steel facilities. The Krefeld facility will combine cold rolling and ferritic steel in order to reduce production costs and facilitate flexible production according to customer needs. All the equipment including a skin pass mill and an annealing furnace will be revamped and modernised. Outdated equipment will be shut down. The company has also signed agreements with 550 employees who are currently employed at the Benrath location stating that they will be employed in the new facilities in Krefeld.