Stahl Gerlafingen cuts output in summer

Swiss steelmaker Stahl Gerlafingen has announced short-time working for August and has filed for state subsidies, which will support some of the wages for the lost working time.

In spring, already announced that it will discontinue the production of merchant bar and sections. Together, they accounted for one third of overall approximate annual output of 700,000 tonnes. The company is since confined to making rebar.

In a statement sent to Kallanish, it details that standstills will occur in the coiling shop from 1 to 13 August, in the meltshop from 9 to 21 August, and in the finishing line from 5 to 19 August. Subsidies for short working have been approved by the regional state government, it notes.

While it is not clearly stated in the press statement, the standstills come in addition to the current summer maintenance break, writes local daily Solothurner Zeitung.

The company notes that “order intake has not developed according to expectations.” However, it is banking on a recovery in the market situation over the course of the second half year.

Christian Koehl Germany