outokumpu is an international stainless steel company. our vision is to be the undisputed number one in stainless, with success based on operational excellence. <br><br>customers in a wide range of industries – from the process industry and industrial machinery to building, construction and electrical industry, transportation, electronics and information technology, as well as catering and households – use our metal products, technologies and services worldwide. we are dedicated to helping our customers gain competitive advantage. <br><br>outokumpu operates in some 30 countries and employs 8 000 people. in 2008, the group's sales were eur 5.5 billion. the group's headquarters are located in espoo, finland. the parent company, outokumpu oyj, has been listed on the nasdaq omx helsinki since 1988.<br><br>our plants in finland, sweden, britain and the us produce a wide range of stainless steel products including hot and cold rolled, precision strip, tubular and long products together with a comprehensive range of fittings, flanges and welding consumables. they are available in various grades, dimensions and surface finishes. we also produce raw material using our own chrome mine and ferrochrome facility. <br><br>for the further development in china marketing, besides the existing sales company, outokumpu is building a processing center --outokumpu stainless steel (china) co.,ltd in kunshan, jiangsu province and plan to have it in operation from year of 2010.</p>