Corus and Elastron, the Greek steel distributor and processor until recently called Kalpinis-Simos, are today inaugurating a new joint-venture service centre in northern Greece that will focus on strip and long products.
The 50/50 joint venture, Tata Elastron SA, will serve the Greek, Balkan and other nearby markets. The service centre occupies a logistically well-positioned site on recently acquired land in an industrial estate in Thessalonica.
As well as investing in the land and buildings, Tata Elastron has installed two new cut-to-length lines, a new slitting line, a cold saw and a shot-blasting machine.
Elastron operates a large strip and long products distribution business near Athens. At the same location it also runs two composite panel lines in a 50/50 joint venture with Corus’ Distribution & Building Systems (CD&BS) Division. Corus Distribution Europe, the partner in the Thessalonica JV, is part of this division.
Corus Distribution Europe Managing Director Adriaan Vollebergh said: “It is very pleasing to be able to expand the value-adding partnership we have built up over the last ten years with Elastron. Corus and Elastron comprise a winning combination in the fast-growing markets of south-eastern Europe.”
Athanasios Kalpinis, Managing Director of Elastron, stated: 'The new venture will introduce a new level of service and customer satisfaction for steel products in northern Greece and neighbouring countries.'