ArcelorMittal Poland has announced it will permanently cease production at the Huta Krolewska plant in Chorzow, with installations scheduled to shut down later this year. The company said it will work to offer alternative positions within its other operations or find suitable solutions for all 270 affected employees.
Huta Krolewska manufactures rails, including 120-meter lengths, sections, and V-profiles for the mining industry. Despite efforts in recent years to sustain operations, CEO Wojciech Koszuta said multiple external factors ultimately outweighed the company’s initiatives.
Marek Kempa, COO of Long Products, noted that although the plant produces specialized products, it accounts for less than 1pct of ArcelorMittal Poland’s total output. He added that the age of the installations would soon make it difficult to maintain safe working conditions without substantial investments, costs the company cannot justify given the current challenges facing Europe’s steel sector.
Before reaching the closure decision, ArcelorMittal Poland invested over USD 8 mln in the facility to expand its product range and improve quality, including upgrades such as a scale breaker, modernized rolling stands, a new stamping machine, and a rail measurement system. The company also sought a strategic investor and explored joint-venture options, but no viable solution emerged. Production at the site will end in December, the company said.
