KLÖCKNER & CO GAINS COMMITMENT FROM TATA STEEL’S EUROPEAN OPERATIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE EDI CONNECTION

Duisburg, Germany, December 3, 2014 – As part of its long-term growth strategy Klöckner & Co aims to digitalize its entire supply chain. Thereby, EDI connections with suppliers for the exchange of standardized business data are one important step. With Tata Steel, Klöckner & Co now gained commitment from Europe’s second largest steel producer for a comprehensive EDI connection.

In the future, both companies will be enabled to exchange all standardized business data like orders, bills and shipping notifications electronically. Due to switching to this digital process the susceptibility to errors will be reduced and at the same time the processing speed and efficiency considerably increased.

Gisbert Rühl, CEO of the Klöckner & Co SE: "We are delighted that we are now, after the successful implementation of several mid-size partners, tackling the first EDI connection with a well-known international producer such as Tata Steel.”

Dr. Henrik Adam, CCO of Tata Steel’s European operations, adds: „Right from the start, we have followed Klöckner & Co’s digitalization initiative with great interest. The target to digitalize the entire supply chain is consistent with our notion that a connected and automated collaboration within order handling strengthens the competitiveness of all market participants significantly. Therefore, we decided to enter into a digital cooperation with Klöckner & Co."

Both companies agreed to commence the EDI implementation in the UK. Thereafter, it is foreseen to extent the project to further European countries as well as to the United States.