Backed by nearly 120 years of leadership in the international steel industry, C&F International arises as a globally positioned, prominent service provider in the international steel trading sector and as the proud heir of the steel trading tradition of "Coutinho & Ferrostaal", as the company was known until Friday. Dr. Israel Gutierrez, CEO of C&F International, has announced the change in the company's name, in an aim to emphasize the global character of the company and highlight its nowadays membership to Villacero's industrial and financial group. "Last year, C&F International became a 100 percent subsidiary of Villacero, the leading distributor and processor of steel products in Mexico, who by itself has also been an active participant in the international steel markets since 30 years ago," Dr. Gutierrez commented.
The company also announced the relocation of its Hamburg headquarters to a privileged location in the city center, in one of the most emblematic buildings in Hamburg. On September 13, in a special ceremony attended by all Germany-based employees, Mr. Julio Villarreal, Chairman of the Board of Villacero, officially inaugurated the new offices of C&F International. "This office, our new house in Hamburg, stands as a signal of what this company and its employees pursue on a continuous basis: to move forward and actively promote the integration of our people for the benefit of our customers and suppliers,"Mr. Villarreal said.
Headquartered in Hamburg and Essen, Germany, as well as in Houston, Texas, US, and with more than 260 employees efficiently working at more than 30 locations in 24 countries, C&F International possesses a comprehensive expertise in all major steel products and procures and markets steel volumes in every region of the world.
In addition to trading with crude steel, semi-finished and other steel related products, C&F International offers their business partners an integrated and customized package of value-added services covering the entire metals supply chain: from exploring new markets to financial engineering to logistic services. "Villacero is in an excellent position to propel the business activities of C&F International to greater heights and help it seize each and every opportunity that the market has to offer. The new name symbolizes the company´s global reach and Villacero's commitment to provide added value for its operations and those of its business partners," Mr. Villarreal commented.
Since Villacero took control of the company, C&F International has focused on consolidating its management structure towards a regional approach, as well as in promoting strategic partnerships with customers and mills, leveraging on the knowledge and expertise on the markets that the company can pass on to its business partners. "We will increase our presence in the markets and regions, build new partnerships with customers and suppliers, and will constantly aim to maximize the quality of the services we provide and our business volume. We will improve our efficiency and will advance processes by straightforward course of action. We will just do it and do it as effective as possible," said Mr. Villarreal.