Unsco (Sheffield, UK) has won the inaugural award for âAchievement in the UK Steel Industryâ?. The award is sponsored by the UK Steel Association and Steel Business Briefing. The extent of the business turn-around that has taken place at Unsco in the last few years has attracted widespread acknowledgement in the industry. In 2001, this producer of alloy steel long products closed down its melting and rolling facilities. Adopting a new business model, Unsco decided to outsource all its raw material supply, and it invested instead in a far wider range of cold-finished products, which it can now produce to better quality standards more efficiently. Unsco has invested a seven-figure sum in new plant and equipment over the last couple of years. This has enlarged its product range to include stainless and tool steels, and increased the size range of its products. Earlier this year Unsco completed a further expansion with the acquisition of equipment that will extend the companyâs product range to include fine stainless wire. The investments have opened up a large market potential for Unsco, and its turnover has almost doubled in the last 15 months. Further acquisitions are currently in the planning stage, and joint venture opportunities are also being looked at.
