Paul Riches and Michael Hagauer are in charge of the company’s global long-rolling business at the Primetals Technologies location in Sutton, Massachusetts. Paul and Michael’s ability to complement each other’s strengths has resulted in an energizing atmosphere: the location’s workforce functions as one cohesive team whose knowledge and passion for what they do fosters innovation and success.
What are the location’s primary objectives?
Paul Riches: We are a leading supplier of high-speed process technology and equipment for producers in the long-rolling market. Our business conducted out of Sutton has two main focus strategies. The first is supplying customers with cutting-edge equipment. The second is establishing long-term partnerships by providing everything from maintenance and services to reliable spare parts. And all this to producers worldwide.
Michael Hagauer: Within Primetals Technologies, we represent the global hub for long-rolling and are proud of our large portfolio. Regarding wire-rod mills, we are the global market leader. We also offer high-speed bar, combination mills, and special bar quality mills. Our partner, Southwire, supplies aluminum and copper mills. This is an important avenue for the electrification efforts of our industry and certainly one of our growth areas. An extensive scope of metallurgical services complements our extensive projects.
Are there strong connections to other locations?
Paul Riches: The long-rolling market has been very strong in China for the past 20 years, and so we have a close relationship with Primetals Technologies China. We also work closely with the regional companies in India, the U.K., and Brazil, who help support us and our customer base.
What trends do you observe in long rolling?
Paul Riches: The latest market trend is fine-grain thermomechanical rolling. It allows customers to minimize the consumption of alloys in the steelmaking process. This aligns perfectly with our role as market leaders in specialty steel and high-productivity wire rod mills. Our success is driven by innovation and advanced processing technology.
The latest market trend is fine-grain thermomechanical rolling. It allows customers to minimize the consumption of alloys in the steelmaking process.
Another trend is individually-driven mill stands within the finishing mill, leading to significant energy savings, reduced equipment wear, and increased flexibility in the rolling process regarding end products.
Lastly, safety is a big topic. We have utilized our expertise to develop robotic applications designed to increase worker safety and ensure the mill remains operational even in tight labor market conditions.
Michael Hagauer: Globally, there is an overcapacity of conventional long-rolled products. Therefore, our primary focus is the expanding market for high-quality steel grades. We provide producers the upgrades they need to shift their portfolio to include these products. This is important from both a market-access perspective and a margin-quality perspective.
What sets you apart from other long-rolling suppliers?
Paul Riches: We are the global leader in the specialty steel and high-productivity wire rod mill market with our innovative processing technology. From out of Sutton, we deliver cutting-edge solutions and, for an expanding American long rolling market, locally built high-speed equipment.
Michael Hagauer: Globally, the cyclical nature of our business has become more pronounced. We effectively balance area-specific cycles from new investments to shifts in product mixes with our diverse portfolio of high-tech, proven products and solutions. This includes steel and non-ferrous production equipment designed to enhance quality, efficiency, and flexibility.