The Salzgitter Group has recently received orders for 70,000 tons of spirally-welded large-diameter pipes by Essen-based Open Grid Europe GmbH. The three projects serve the purpose of extending the natural gas grid in southern and western Germany in order to ensure supply. The orders were booked by the Group’s subsidiary Salzgitter Mannesmann Großrohr GmbH (MGR) and will be produced in Salzgitter. Together with other pipeline projects in France, Poland and Italy totaling more than 50,000 t, double-shift capacity utilization has been secured for the large-diameter pipe mill through to mid-2017. Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH is to supply the input material.