Primetals Technologies has recently inaugurated its state-of-the-art service workshop in Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This advanced facility delivers comprehensive maintenance and refurbishment services for the steel industry. Supporting Brazil’s growing industrial sector, the workshop is equipped with advanced digital asset tracking, representing a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and lasting partnerships.
A New Era for Maintenance
The goal of the new Santa Cruz workshop is clear: to deliver next-level services that enable customers to extend equipment lifetimes, reduce operational costs, and achieve their strategic business objectives. The new facility is equipped to handle a wide range of maintenance and refurbishment tasks for casters, flat rolling mills, galvanizing lines, and other critical components.
Advanced technologies, such as laser cladding and high-velocity coating systems (HVOF and HVAF), enable precise, durable repairs that enhance equipment performance and longevity. Apart from HVOF and HVAF, the new workshop offers electrolytic nickel plating, laser cladding, and submerged and open-arc welding. The workshop also features a modern mechatronics and hydraulics test center, supporting both steel and other heavy industries, including mining, oil and gas, wind energy, and paper production.
Freshly machined steel rolls are staged and ready for quality inspection, with a Mazak CNC turning center in the background.
A technician demonstrates the use of a FARO® arm for high-precision 3D measurement and quality assurance, ensuring dimensional accuracy.
A robotic laser cladding system for automated refurbishment of cylindrical components, enhancing wear resistance and extending service life.
A heavy-duty TOS horizontal boring and milling machine in action, precisely machining large steel rolls for use in rolling mills and metallurgical plants
Maintenance with Digitalization at its Core
The workshop in Santa Cruz represents a new standard for maintenance workshops worldwide with digitalization at its core. Leveraging the Maintenance and Asset Technology (MAT) from Primetals Technologies, workshop asset tracking automates workflows, enhances traceability, and ensures rigorous quality control.
With Maintenance and Asset Technology (MAT), every operational step is digitally tracked and documented, providing customers with real-time data and complete transparency throughout the repair process. This digital ecosystem enables faster, safer, and more predictable services while supporting continuous improvement and knowledge sharing among teams. Workshop employees benefit from “paperless” practices, meaning each workshop employee is connected via smartphones and tablets to track every component and various workflows.
The workshop also utilizes a central monitoring center to oversee all maintenance activities, providing status updates on repairs and workflows. Additionally, the m.space E-Services platform centralizes documentation, ensuring that all records are accessible from anywhere, 24/7. For customers, this means reliable turnaround times, full asset traceability, and data-driven decision-making for their maintenance strategies.
Supporting Growth and Opportunity
Regionally, the impact of the workshop extends beyond technology and customer service. The aim is to generate a positive social impact for the region, supporting employees, customers, and the broader community through collaboration and shared progress. By establishing this facility in Santa Cruz, Primetals Technologies is creating new job opportunities and fostering long-term careers for local residents.
The workshop promotes employee development and provides training in advanced industrial skills, thereby contributing to the growth of the local workforce. Partnerships with local suppliers and educational institutions are encouraged, which strengthens the regional economy and supports the broader industrial ecosystem. The facility’s focus on sustainability and efficiency also results in a reduced environmental impact, aligning with community goals for a responsible industry.
A Facility Designed for Partnership and Progress
Strategically located near major steel producers and along key transportation routes, the Santa Cruz workshop is positioned to support Brazil’s industrial heartland. The investment brings advanced technology to the region and encourages partnerships with local suppliers and educational institutions. The digitally advanced environment empowers employees to work efficiently, safely, and collaboratively.
By combining state-of-the-art equipment, digitalized operations, and a customer- and community-focused mindset, the new service workshop in Brazil sets a benchmark for the metals industry. It is a testament to the vision of Primetals Technologies, pioneering sustainable solutions and delivering value through ownership, collaboration, and innovation. Employees, customers, and the local community alike can look forward to a future where maintenance is smarter, more efficient, and fully transparent, helping to build a stronger, more sustainable industry and society for tomorrow.
