TPT January 2008

I ndustry N ews

Ukraine’s UVIS Group transforms into Centravis

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The program of Centravis plans that by 2010, the company will shift from regional leaders to world producers of seamless stainless pipe

International holding company Centravis Ltd, Ukraine, has been created from the UVIS group of companies. Centravis is aiming to become a major new player on the global seamless stainless steel tube market. Officially launched last November at the 2007 Stainless Steel World Conference & Exhibition, Centravis combines the manufacturing, service and trading assets of UVIS into a single integrated structure. Centravis includes the production capacities of Nikopol stainless pipe mill and an extensive network of trade companies and agents in western Europe (Germany, Italy, Switzerland), USA, and CIS countries (Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine). These companies include UAS SA, UAS America, Nikopol Stainless Italy, Eurolinex (stainless pipe only), Promsiryemetall, Nikopol Ukr Stainless, Nikopol Rus Stainless and others. As part of this renaming process, JSC Nikopol stainless tube mill (NSTM) has been

renamed as JSC Centravis Production Ukraine (CPU). This decision was taken by the company’s shareholders during a recent meeting. Mr Vitaliy Lyutik, the acting NSTM general director, has been appointed the general director of Centravis Production Ukraine. The long-term development program of Centravis plans that by 2010, the company will shift from regional leaders to world producers of seamless stainless pipe. To achieve this aim, the scaled reorganization process is supported by intensive investment in technology, equipment and training programs for employees. The project will be organised by an international team of managers from Germany, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine, according to European standards of management and business operations. The company’s total investment into production facilities and new technologies will amount to $115 million in 2007-2008. This will expand its range, allow a twofold

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increase in production capacities, and improve product quality. Improvements will also be made to the IT infrastructure and warehouse system, with the implementation of ERP- and CRM-systems and introduction of TQM (total quality management) according to ISO 9000. CEO of Centravis holding, Mr YuriyAtanasov states, “The future belongs to companies able to combine the technology and quality of western giants with the eastern dynamic and proactive approach. We are focused on local partnership together with our global competence.” Mr Ilya Shirokobrod, Centravis marketing and sales director, states, “Our mission is to become the most valuable, flexible and reliable partner in providing competitive seamless stainless steel solutions.” According to a 2006 SMR annual report, Centravis is number five in the international niche market of seamless stainless tubes (with a market share of 5 per cent), number one in the heat exchanger market segment (with a market share of 15 per cent), and number four in the boiler tube segment (with a market share of 12 per cent). The company’s market share is 7 per cent in western Europe, 16 per cent in eastern Europe, and 40 per cent in the CIS. The Centravis product portfolio includes more than 1,000 standard size tubes produced in 60 corrosion and heat resistant steel grades in seven areas. These are general pipes, boiler tubes, heat-exchanger tubing, instrumental tubing, furnace tubes, hollow bars and Ni-alloy tubes. The company’s products are used in industries including chemical and petrochemical, nuclear and thermal power engineering, non-ferrous metallurgy, machine and shipbuilding, and food.

Centravis – Ukraine Fax : +38 56 373 4846 Website : www.centravis.com

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J anuary 2008

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