This is what the steel industry looks like
The Swedish steel industry is a highly versatile producer of steel and has a nationwide presence, ranging from large steel plants with thousands of employees to smaller specialist companies. Regardless of the size or the special area of operations, our industry is built on in-depth knowledge concerning steel and its many areas of application. All this creates good opportunities for professional development and the building of a career for those who really want to work within our industry.
The steel industry is present in many places in Sweden
Sweden’s steel industry is geographically spread though most steel companies are found in central Sweden, above all in Bergslagen. This is where there is a long tradition of iron and steel manufacture. Indeed, many of today’s production sites can look back on a history of several hundred years.
The steel companies differ as regards to both size and area of operation. The largest companies have thousands of employees whereas the smallest have fewer than a hundred. Production volumes also vary considerably between the companies.
Different types of steel company
There are companies whose production chain is concentrated wholly or largely within their own operations, while others are specialised in only certain products or parts of steel production.
Companies may, for example, operate in the following areas:
- melting and casting of steel
- production of plate, strip, bar, profiles, wire and tube
- production of steel powder
- further processing and refining of steel
- specialised production of smaller production volumes.
While some steel companies possess their own steel production others buy in steel slabs or ready steel products for further processing. This means that operations and production processes can vary greatly from one company to another.
From large volumes to specialised products
The products manufactured and the volumes produced also differ. Certain companies produce large quantities of steel within a limited number of product areas whereas others specialise in smaller volumes of advanced products with special properties.
Sweden’s steel companies, to a large extent, have specialised their production in advanced steel products and material qualities. Companies compete therefore not only on the basis of how much steel they can produce but also through the material properties, the product quality and how well these products can meet the specific needs of the customers.
Different customers and sales models
How the steel reaches the customer’s premises also varies between the companies. Some companies mainly sell directly to their end customers while others sell all or part of their production via distributors or stockholders.
Which sales model is used depends, for example, on what type of products the company manufactures, which customers it has and in which markets the products are sold.
A large proportion of the steel produced in Sweden is sold outside the country’s borders. At the same time, large quantities of steel are imported into Sweden. The Swedish steel industry is thus one part of an international market where companies, customers and suppliers are to be found across the globe.