To work in the steel industry
The steel industry, over a long period, has undergone far-reaching change. Since the 1960’s the number of employees within the steel industry has been in steady decline. However, contrary to what many people think, production volumes have not declined and nor has the importance of the steel industry for the world today. The steel industry’s demand for competent personnel in the form of engineers with qualifications in materials science is increasing all the time.
Temperature measurement. Photo: Höganäs AB
An industry with the accent on specialisation
The restructuring that has taken place has meant that the Swedish steel companies have specialised within different product areas. This has meant that steel companies in Sweden, to a large extent, no longer compete with one another but operate instead within a tough, globalised market.
Established products, processes and areas of application undergo continuous development at the same time as wholly new steel grades and production methods emerge as a result of ongoing research.
Work that stimulates professional and personal development
To work in the steel industry does not only mean that you will be involved in the development of the most exciting materials of tomorrow. You will also have many opportunities for developing yourself and your skills. You can work all over the world and also get help to enable you to find the right career path. This may lead to acquiring a broader or a deeper skill base, or indeed a combination of these.
As an engineer in the steel industry, you are able to choose to work in many interesting fields.
You can, for example, work with
- material development, to prepare new materials for new products.
- rolling-mill operation research, to optimise day-to-day operations.
- production techniques, to maintain maximum plant efficiency.
- environmentaltechnology, to reduce the environmental impact.
- process control, to control forces, temperatures, speeds, analyses etc.
- application engineering, to ensure the products meet customer requirements.
- marketing, to create a market for the company’s products.
Not only engineers in the steel industry
It is certainly not the case that the steel industry offers an exciting and stimulating workplace only to engineering graduates; in fact, many different employees are required to keep the wheels of some of Sweden’s largest companies running. Technicians of different kinds (engineering technicians and production technicians), electricians, machinists but also design engineers are all in great demand in today’s steel industry.
Self-evidently there is also a need for competent HR specialists, professional communicators and economists.
