An integrated value chain in practice: Collaboration with Italfil on the first 6,000 tons

With the acquisition of a majority stake in Italfil, the voestalpine Group has further strengthened its expertise in welding technology. Today, this integration spans the entire process chain — from the raw material base at Erzberg, through steel production in Donawitz and wire rod production, to the finished welding wire.  The respective strengths complement each other well: Italfil brings experience, flexibility, and local market knowledge, while voestalpine Wire Rod Austria and voestalpine Böhler Welding Germany contribute international reach, modern facilities, and a global presence.

For customers, this means above all: better-matched materials, stable processes, and a holistic view of material and application — supported by a continuous expansion of the product portfolio.

The focus lies on the close coordination between material development and further processing, with expertise being effectively combined.

From the very beginning, the collaboration has been characterized by an open, solution-oriented exchange. This has enabled the targeted development of wire rod grades that are perfectly aligned with the specific requirements of the drawing processes.

As with any close technical collaboration, there were challenges here as well, particularly in coordinating material specifications, integrating processes, and collaborating across locations.

These are being addressed through a structured approach, including continuous exchange, joint testing, clear communication, and the active involvement of employees throughout the change process.

This iterative approach not only led to robust technical solutions but also strengthened the collaboration in the long term.

The collaboration between voestalpine Wire Rod Austria and Italfil demonstrates how integrated material and process development works in practice. The close alignment of expertise results in solutions that are both technically and economically convincing.

The added value stems from consistent coordination across the entire process chain:

• faster implementation
• stable processes
• tailored materials

Or, to put it simply: “One group. One value chain. One solution.”

This project exemplifies voestalpine Wire Rod Austria’s and voestalpine Böhler Welding Germanycommitment to developing integrated solutions through close collaboration - connecting every step from raw material to application.