ON A ROLL The world’s leading roll manufacturer Åkers takes a truly global approach to ensuring that it delivers high quality products to its customers wherever they are in the world, with its latest innovation, Invicta, continuing the promise. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to global sales director Geert van der Linden and marketing manager Lorna Payne to find out more. Lorna Payne
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ne of Sweden’s oldest companies, Åkers can trace its roots back to 1580. Its modern history essentially began in 1985 when its concerted focus on global expansion saw the considerable development of its multinational presence, including the launch of a number of new products and complementary services. Today, the Åkers Group employs almost 2000 people worldwide, generating an annual turnover, of on average, €320 million from its 10 factories in six countries across three continents. Global sales director Geert van der Linden told Industry Europe how the company’s wide-reaching facilities allow it to meet its promise of exceeding customer expectations wherever they are in the world. Mr van der Linden explained, “We certainly take a global approach to each of our product sectors so that the type of customers that value our high quality rolls can enjoy the same promise across the world. Our target market is global, as we want to work with any mill that is interested in improved performance and environmental awareness.”
Manufacturing 70,000 tonnes of cast rolls each year, 29,000 tonnes of forged rolls and 45,000 tonnes of bars and ingots, Åkers Rolls is strategically divided into four key divisions, with Cast Rolls America, Cast Rolls Europe and Asia, Forged Rolls and Speciality Rolls all sharing the capabilities of the company’s headquarters in Åkers Styckebruk, Sweden.
Leading the way As a pioneer in the rolling industry, Åkers invests heavily in research and development. According to Mr van der Linden, “We are always looking to bring new innovations to our product portfolio so research and development is paramount to our continued success.” It is thanks to the R&D team that Åkers has recently launched its most innovative product to date. Invicta represents the cold rolling industry’s biggest breakthrough for many years and, in what is a relatively conservative industry, highlights how committed Åkers is to bringing fresh ideas and solutions to market. A new line of rolls for cold rolling mills, Invicta is a forged high-speed steel work
roll. Ms Payne commented, “Åkers Invicta is a brand new forged HSS roll for cold rolling mills, with vastly superior performance to all other rolls available on the market. This roll brings significant added value to our customers and to Åkers.”
A greener roll The environmental advantages of Invicta centre round the fact that it does not require the standard chrome plating associated with traditional rolls, with this toxic hexavalent chrome product causing issues when released into the environment in an uncontrolled manner. Invicta’s performance benefits are highlighted by its ability to last up to five times longer than a standard roll, which represents a considerable cost saving in terms of both replacement and maintenance as they need to be changed less frequently so the uptime is much greater. Ms Payne pointed out, “Rolls are like customised tools. Our customers need to know that the rolls they use are efficient, effective and totally reliable. Åkers certainly
Geert Van Der Linden, global sales director 120 Industry Europe
