AST is one of the world's leading manufacturers of welded stainless steel tubes and pipes, and consists of 5 Tube mills, 3 in Sweden and 2 in Finland. These mills combine cost-efficient production with a global sales and distribution network and offers customers one of the broadest product ranges on the market. AST's focus is exclusively on stainless steel. The main part of the products is used in the processes industries. AST currently employs around 640 people and had a net sale of EUR 200 million in 2002.

    History

    AST, Avesta Sandvik Tube AB, was established in 1984 through the merger of Fagersta Sandvik Tube, Nyby Uddeholm and Avesta抯 production units for welded stainless tubes. Originally 75 per cent of the shares were held by Avesta AB and 25 per cent by Sandvik AB.

    The Finnish mill Finnpipe was incorporated with AST 1992, and JARO 2002.

    Today the company still retains the AST name but now it stands for AvestaPolarit Stainless Tube AB, with 83% of the shares owned by Outokumpu and 17% by Sandvik.

    AvestaPolarit is an integral part of the Outokumpu, in which the stainless steel business is a core area.