EWK’s Steel Distributor in North America Has New Name

The new name for the North American distribution operations of the steel production mill Edelstahl-Witten-Krefeld GmbH (EWK), effective October 1, is Swiss Steel International NA. Formerly known as ThyssenKrupp Specialty Steels NA, the distributor underwent the change in identity as a result of the sale last May of EWK and its international sales subsidiaries to Swiss Steel AG of Emmenbruecke, Switzerland.

The integration of EWK into Swiss Steel will create the world’s largest steel production, distribution, and processing company for long products, according to Tony Elfstrom, president and CEO of Swiss Steel International. “The combination will result in investments in product offerings, customer service capabilities, and value-added services that will benefit our customers,” he said.

“However, there will be few changes in our day-to-day operations, other than introducing a red-and-black logo and answering the phones with ’Swiss Steel International.’”

The new group will have 7,500 employees worldwide and a total steel production capacity of 2.5 million metric tons, with annual sales of $4.1 billion.

Elfstrom reiterated that the sales and marketing team would not change, nor would the source and mixture of products. “Our tool steels will still be produced by EWK in Germany, and we will continue to provide nonferrous tooling materials supplied through our distribution partners Alimex, Alcan, and Brush Wellman. Plus, our Heat Treatment Division will continue to provide the highest-quality vacuum heat treatment, metallurgical lab services, and technical support.”

One benefit of the new organization will be increased production output with shorter lead times. Elfstrom noted that this is because EWK has received supervisory board approval to invest $150 million in current production facilities.

Swiss Steel International NA has operations in Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis in the United States and Toronto and Windsor in Canada. Swiss Steel AG is a globally active steel group owned by the Schmolz & Bickenbach Group of Düsseldorf, Germany, with branches on every inhabited continent.