Benteler Steel/Tube will close its pipe plant in Switzerland by the end of 2023

The Austrian company Benteler Steel/Tube has confirmed the decision to close the plant for the production of welded pipes in Rothrist (Switzerland) by the end of 2023. SteelOrbis informs about it.

The reasons for closing the enterprise were the situation on the world market of welded pipes. For several years, it has been strained by export restrictions, the high cost of energy and raw materials. According to the company’s announcement, the consultation process did not provide any sustainable prospects for the Swiss enterprise.

The Rothrist plant, which employs around 300 people, specializes in the production of welded drawn pipes for the industrial and automotive sectors. The company is currently discussing the details of the social plan with the workers’ council, trying to find the best way for all parties and to minimize the period of uncertainty for workers.

Benteler Steel/Tube, a division of the holding company Benteler International AG, specializes in the production of quality seamless and welded steel tubes for the automotive, energy and industrial market segments, offering solutions from material definition to process integration.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in January 2023 Liberty Steel UK reported about intentions to focus on the production of high-margin products and suspend the production of unprofitable, with partial release of idle personnel. The company plans to focus on the production of high-value alloy steel at the Specialty Steel UK (SSUK) plants in Rotherham, Stocksbridge and Brinsworth. The products will be supplied to the strategic aerospace, energy and engineering industries.