German steel giant thyssenKrupp has received a follow-up order for 2,500 tons of rolled steel from inland waterways operator Neue Ruhrorter Schiffswerft (NRS). The steel will be used to build push barges that are used to transport ores and commodities along the Ruhr, Rhine and other rivers.
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia accounts for almost one half of the goods shipped via inland waterways in Germany. Last year, around 127Mt of cargo was transported by push barge.
ThyssenKrupp's rolled steel will be used to build five push barges operated by NRS and will be cut to size by thyssenkrupp Schulte, a subsidiary of thyssenkrupp materials services. It will be cut, primed and modified to meet customer requirements, claims thyssenkrupp.
“We will make sure that our partners obtain the finest materials for their needs and just in time,” said Dirk Claessens of thyssenkrupp Schulte. He added that contracts are very important for thyssenkrupp and are a great example of intra-group co-operation. “We as logistics experts ensure that our colleagues at thyssenkrupp Steel Europe obtain the raw materials they need for steel production,” he concluded.
Steel made by thyssenkrupp Steel Europe has been used to manufacture NRS push barges since 2011.