Wuppermann invests €40 million in increasing the capacity of the pipe plant in Austria

Wuppermann AG has approved a €40 million investment in the expansion of the Wuppermann Metalltechnik GmbH (WMT) pipe rolling mill located in Altmünster, Austria. This is stated in the press release on the company’s website.

«Pipes and pipe products have been produced at this plant for over 60 years. With this decision, we take a serious step in the technological development of the pipe and profile industry, and ensure the future growth and financial stability of the company,» said the chairman of the supervisory board of Wuppermann AG Theodore Wuppermann.

The funds will be directed to the construction of a new complex of workshops for two pipe welding lines and highly automated warehouses for raw materials and finished products. Thanks to the modern technologies that will be implemented in the project, WMT will be able to ensure its competitiveness in the future and will accompany new developments on the market.

«Implementation of the project will allow to create a more modern pipe plant with a very high level of digitization and automation. The use of artificial intelligence will give us advantages, especially in the quality of our products, as well as the efficiency of processes,» comments Johannes Nonn, spokesman for the board of Wuppermann AG.

The construction of the new production line is planned to begin in 2024 on the plot purchased in 2021, which borders the current plant capacity. WMT is currently operating one pipe welding line, which will remain in operation throughout the construction period to ensure uninterrupted product supplies to customers. The launch of new capacities is planned for 2025, after which the existing line will be transferred to the new workshop complex.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Austrian steelworks Wuppermann Austria commissioned a new rolling line at its plant in Judenburg. The total amount of investment in the construction of the unit was €13 million.

The unit can produce a wider range of roll sizes and pack products. In addition, the line works with raw materials with a width of 100-600 mm, and processes high-strength and stainless steel

In 2022, Austria reduced steel production by 4.7% compared to 2021 – to 7.51 million tons. Last December, the country’s steelmakers increased steel production by 0.5% m/m – up to 560 thousand tons.