Erasteel has announced its largest investment in the powder metallurgy (PM)business to-date by building a new gas-atomisation unit in Soderfors, Sweden, at a cost of €17 million. Advanced technologies will be used to ensure high powder cleanliness and serve the growing needs of a wide range of industries. The new unit, named DurinTM, will be operational in the second half of 2010. As a result, Erasteel’s atomisation capacity will double.

With three atomisers, DvalinTM, FlexiplantTM and DurinTM, Erasteel will have the world’s largest production capacity for gas-atomised metal powders.

Erasteel, a subsidiary of Eramet, is the world’s largest producer of high speed steels and a leading supplier of a wide range of metal powders such as high speed steels, known on the market under the brandname ASPS, tool steels, stainless steels and other specialty alloys.

Eramet is one of the leading producers of nickel, manganese, alloys and special steels and employs more than 15,000 people in over 20 countries.

Contact:

Ulf Melin, Managing Director, Erasteel KlosterAB, Stiderfors, Sweden. Tel: +46 (0)293 54 303

Philippe Joly, Head of Financial Communication, Eramet, Paris, France, Tel: +33 (0)1 45 38 42 02.

www.erasteel.com www.eramet.fr