Ugitech SA, a manufacturer of long stainless steel products and a subsidiary of the Schmolz + Bickenbach AG steel group, is adding to its production capacity of drawn wires with the construction of a new wire drawing mill in Brumby near Magdeburg (Germany). The new plant building is part of a three-year investment programme involving annual expenditures of EUR 30-35 million between now and the end of 2009. With its new location in Brumby, Ugitech is responding to the sustained increase in demand for drawn wires in Eastern Europe. With a workforce of 60 employees, the plant also enhances production capacity for high-grade steel wire within the Schmolz + Bickenbach Group. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2008. Covering 5000m2 of floor space, the large new factory includes various drawing machines and heat treatment plants, as well as an annealing furnace made specially for the Ugitech plant. The furnace has two chambers with different temperature settings and allows Ugitech to produce alloys with very high nickel content.