Rautaruukki is to streamline steel service centre operations by eliminating overlaps at the centers and centralizing customer service. The division of work between units will be reorganized to improve service centre delivery accuracy, cost efficiency and profitability.

The release said that “In connection with streamlining operations, employer employee negotiations will start on 23 June 2008 at Ruukki Metals’ service centers in Järvenpää and Naantali in Finland and in Halmstad in Sweden. Efforts will be made to find work in Ruukki’s other units for the approximately 15 to 20 employees affected in Järvenpää, Naantali and Halmstad. These three centers employ a total of 318 people.”

The release added that “Stainless and aluminum product operations will be centered entirely on Järvenpää. Operations at the Naantali service centre will be enhanced by improving production and cost efficiency. The Halmstad service centre in Sweden will shift to optimizing own cutting of carbon steels instead of partly subcontracting as at present.”