Outokumpu and Sidenor today announced a partnership to jointly market Prodec high machinability bar in Europe. Sidenor is a leading special and stainless bar supplier located in Spain. As part of the partnership Sidenor will produce and distribute hot rolled round peeled bars using Outokumpu’s Prodec treated feedstock material. Through the partnership Outokumpu and Sidenor will together be able to offer Prodec round bar in the complete size range 6mm to 350mm. Prodec range is available in grades 304L/4307, 316L/4404, 303/4305 and 17-4PH. These are suitable for machining applications such as fasteners, valves, pressure fittings, nuts, bolts and screws, gears, shafts, and bearings. Says John Stansfield, head of sales for Outokumpu long product Europe: “We’re very pleased to announce this partnership with Sidenor. Together we can offer a full range of Prodec bar to our customers in Europe. We’re seeing very good interest for Prodec bar from both distributors and machine shops.” Prodec grades now offer industry’s best machining speeds. According to our tests (V15 test), Prodec can achieve machining speeds up to 300 m/minute, resulting in a double tool life compared to competing materials in the market. By using Outokumpu Prodec, customers can optimize machining speeds to gain significant cost savings per component (up-to 50% savings depending on the application). Machining at higher speeds also helps to avoid built up edge on inserts and leads to a better surface quality and tolerances. Outokumpu has a century of experience creating efficient, long-lasting, recyclable stainless steels. Its global offering includes quality-critical long products for heavy industries. Outokumpu’s Long Products sites are located in the UK, Sweden and the US, and are well known for high quality products, flexibility and world-class delivery performance. Sidenor is a steel company, leader in the European steel industry for the production of special steel long products, with production centers in Basque Country, Cantabria and Catalonia as well as business delegations in Germany, France, Italy and the U.K. In the stainless steels portfolio Sidenor is focused on the production of hot rolled and peeled bars in the diameters from 20-220 mm that are offered in the grades AISI 304L, AISI 303, AISI 316L, AISI 321, AISI 316 + Ti). Read more about Outokumpu Long Products offering at www.outokumpu.com/longproducts.