10 May 2012
Corporate News

Tata Steel picks up JCB award

Confirming its position as one of the leading suppliers to the off-road construction equipment industry, Tata Steel has received a Supplier Performance Award 2012 at JCB’s Supplier Conference in Rocester, UK.

The annual conference was attended by over 240 of JCB’s key suppliers and recognised those that particularly excelled during the year. Of the nine companies shortlisted, Tata Steel was one of just three to receive the accolade at the event.

Presenting the award was JCB's Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford and JCB's CEO Alan Blake, with Koen ten Broek, Tata Steel’s Global Account Manager JCB and Gareth Beese, Tata Steel’s Sales and Marketing Director, Lifting & Excavating, on hand to accept.

Speaking at the event, Koen ten Broek said: 'This is fantastic recognition of all the hard work that Tata Steel and JCB continue to invest in establishing a strong partnership together.'

The Supplier Performance Awards assess five key areas of business, including quality, cost, innovation, delivery and management. The Lifting & Excavating team within Tata Steel has consistently delivered over the last 12 months, focusing on a number of critical initiatives and projects.

Tata Steel supplies a competitive product in a wide variety of sizes, grades and conditions as required by JCB, and their quality allows JCB’s laser cutting to operate at high speed and efficiency. Tata Steel and JCB are also working together on new product designs that incorporate high strength steels, and are experimenting with alternative welding techniques for major fabrications.

Tata Steel Chief Commercial Officer in Europe, Henrik Adam, commented: “This award recognises the changes we have made in the last couple of years towards a more customer-centric strategy and organisational structure. The creation of Market Sector Teams, like Lifting & Excavating, has moved us closer to our customers and given us a better understanding of their needs. The new teams’ multi-product offerings are making it easier for customers to buy from us.”

'The fact that Tata Steel has been acknowledged is due, in no small degree, to JCB's recognition of the importance of suppliers,' says Koen ten Broek. 'This is confirmation that Tata Steel is on the right track and the challenge now is to develop the partnership even more successfully.'

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For further information
Bob Jones on +44 (0)207 717 4532, or email bob.jones@tatasteel.com

About Tata Steel in Europe
The European operations of Tata Steel comprise Europe's second largest steel producer. With main steelmaking operations in the UK and the Netherlands, they supply steel and related services to the construction, automotive, packaging, lifting & excavating, energy & power, aerospace and other demanding markets worldwide. Tata Steel is one of the world’s top ten steel producers. The combined group has an aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 28 million tonnes and approximately 80,000 employees across four continents.

Tata Steel’s Lifting & Excavating sector serves the CEME (Construction Earthmoving Equipment), cranes, mining and fork lift truck industries.