The Port of Tarragona’s diversification strategy is showing good results in cargos such as iron and steel. In the first five months of the year, traffic in this sector increased by 85.3% compared to 2020, partly thanks to steel manufacturers, who have moved 333,981 tons. During the month of May, steel saw one of the most significant increases compared to 2020 with a growth of 185%.
Iron and steel traffic in the Port of Tarragona generates industrial activities that increase the value of the products and services provided by the companies that operate within the port area. An example of these synergies is Prime Steel, a company dedicated to the marketing and distribution of metallurgical products. A subsidiary of the UK-based Bemaco Steel, it has been operating in the Port of Tarragona since 2003.
The company has recently acquired high-precision machinery for its specialised tasks. Cutting equipment from the United Kingdom provides the Tarragona facilities with the ability to manufacture easily and efficiently with short reprogramming times. This allows modifications to be made quickly and more cost-effectively.
The laser is able to create very complex parts with great precision and repeatability, providing very high yields. Laser processing produces a cleaner finish, so there is no need to polish the parts once produced. In short, the laser is much faster than conventional processing methods and means that the end customer can be offered different manufacturing and assembly options not available with traditional machinery.
Thanks to laser cutting, the raw materials that arrive by sea at the Port of Tarragona can be converted into solutions for any sector: construction, car manufacturing, aerospace, household appliances, etc.
Prime Steel’s large-capacity facilities in the Port of Tarragona occupy two sheds with a total space of 8,000 m2 and are a few metres from the edge of the Aragon Wharf.
The buildings are equipped with five bridge cranes, including a JASO 2x18 TN with a rotating carriage, that can move large, heavy structures. There is also a 60-metric-ton weighing scale inside the facilities.
The availability of space allows a stock of different products to be kept under cover inside the buildings. This means that materials such as steel, aluminium, copper and brass can be protected in conditions that preserve their qualities, as well as complying with CE standards.