The global economic downturn, the international slump in steel demand, and the difficulties seen in the automotive, construction and white goods sectors - these are among the elements which have caused Italian steelmaker Acciaierie Bertoli Safau (ABS), based in Cargnacco, Udine, to idle its plant for two weeks starting from February 2.
Accordingly, 700 of the total 1,000-strong workforce will be sent on leave, as the plant's two EAFs are idled. The remaining 300 workers will work their usual hours at the rolling mills, in CRC production and carrying out overhaul works.
Acciaierie Bertoli Safau's sales results in the period from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 totaled €997 million. ABS has about 500 customers and exports 45 percent of its whole production. Among its main customers are Tenaris, Bharat Forge, Bonatrans and Calvi Group. Bertoli Safau supplies special steels for the most different applications: from cars to industrial vehicles, for the mechanical industry and machines in general; weld-less pipes for the mechanical and petrochemical industries; high-pressure and high-temperature gas cylinders; bearings; in addition to re-rolling and forging steels.
Udine-based ABS operates on premises covering 783,000 square meters, and manufactures ingots, cast blooms, rolled products (round bars, billets), forged bars (rough, turned, treated), bars with surface conditioning and heat treated bars.