23 March 2006 – Aubert & Duval, a world leader in special steels, alloys and superalloys is today inaugurating a tool steel distribution centre in Wuxi near Shanghai, China.
This 5 million dollar investment will enable Aubert & Duval to conquer the Chinese high-grade tool steel market estimated at 50,000 tonnes per year. The new company, Aubert & Duval Moulds and Die Technology Co. Ltd, will be involved with marketing, pre-machining and heat treatment of steels used in the manufacture of moulds for industrial sectors such as automotive, glass, plastics etc. The Wuxi service centre (3000 m²) includes a warehouse as well as storage, cutting, machining and vacuum heat treatment facilities. The centre handles distribution of products manufactured by the Aubert & Duval factories based in Firminy (Loire) and Les Ancizes (Puy-de-Dôme), France. The Chinese unit which currently employs specialist staff in sales, metallurgical and technical support should grow to a 50-strong workforce within the next five years.
Implemented in partnership with Thermi-Lyon, which is contributing up to 15% of the overall investment, the program is a first for Aubert & Duval which had not had any distribution structure in China up to now.
This investment will contribute to the growth strategy of the ERAMET Groupe, which aims to strengthen its three Divisions and, particularly, to develop its activities in China.
