STRONG AND VERSATILE The Ovako Group, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, is a leading European producer of engineering steel for clients in the bearing, transportation and engineering industries. Victoria Hattersley talks to Carl-Michael Raihle, president of Ovako Tube & Ring in Hofors, Sweden.
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he roots of Ovako in Sweden date back to the 17th century, but today the group has a multinational presence with 11 production facilities and sales companies in Europe, the USA and Asia. There is a great deal of synergy between all group divisions in order to meet any customer demand, as Mr Raihle explains: “In terms of 194 Industry Europe
Ovako Tube & Ring (OTR) we operate from one site, but Ovako has three steel mills and OTR can source material from any of those mills, depending on the alloy or size or other specifications needed. We have a very wide range of internal alloys and can also source from steel suppliers outside the group. We can basically offer whatever the customer wants.”
Wide range of tubes and rings Ovako’s basic range of hot and cold-rolled tubes runs from 25 to 250mm thickness and can be provided in a variety of surface types from around 100 different kinds of alloys. “We also offer pre-components, where our tubes will be cut to specific dimensions and surface treated in order to