According to a statement released by the Finnish steelmaker Rautaruukki (Ruukki) on December 11, the company plans to further improve operational efficiency by merging the Puurtajankatu steel service center with the Asponkatu steel service center in Järvenpää, Finland.
The steel service centers in Seinäjoki and Raahe will be merged to form one service center organisation and operations at the Hyvinkää steel service center will be reorganised.
Ruukki has a total of seven steel service centers in Finland.
At these sites, employer-employee negotiations regarding improving the efficiency of the steel service center network ended on 11 December 2009, resulting in the loss of 153 jobs.
Due to weak market conditions, some steel service centers of the company will also temporarily lay off workers. Layoffs will begin in March 2010 at the earliest. The extent and duration of layoffs will vary depending on the site.
In addition, to save costs, the capacity of plate and prefabrication operations at the Raahe Works will be adjusted to meet demand by using just one pusher-type slab reheating furnace for rolling and by changing shift schedules.