Usiminas has in hard competition selected to use Shapeline systems provided locally by Thermo Fisher Scientific to provide flatness measurements for its Plate Mill in Ipatinga in Brazil.

Lower production levels caused by the current downturn of the economy are an opportunity for Usiminas to improve its capability in producing high quality and competitive steel plate. After an extensive evaluation process, the company has now selected Shapeline to provide the measurement systems required to trim and operate the process of producing steel plates for the Brazilian and international markets. The initial order is for three complete systems with the highest possible requirements on performance and accuracy. The systems will be delivered to Usiminas by their long time business partner Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Mr Par Kierkegaard CEO of Shapeline said that "Being our first implementation in Brazil and of such large size enables us at Shapeline to move against the trend and actually expand our business and international presence. We have delivered to plate mills that are in the technological frontline for a considerable time. With this order we are now established as the global leader. Shapeline systems are now in operation from Korea in the East to Brazil and the USA in the West."