Rautaruukki to make its steel business more eff...

Rautaruukki Corporation Stock exchange release 8 January 2009 at 9:00

Rautaruukki's steel product manufacturing division, Ruukki
Production, is to merge with Ruukki Metals as of 1 February 2009. The
merger will streamline the corporate structure, which in future will
comprise two divisions - Ruukki Construction and Ruukki Engineering -
specialising in the solutions business and Ruukki Metals division,
which will become the new focus of the steel business. Segment
reporting within Rautaruukki will remain unchanged.


-Merging the large production works, tube works and service centres
forming the steel business into a new seamless entity will enable us
to improve the flexibility and efficiency of the steel business. The
aim is a clear improvement in delivery accuracy and customer service.
The removal of overlapping functions will also mean more efficient
use of resources and capital, and improve cost efficiency," says
Sakari Tamminen, President & CEO of Rautaruukki Corporation.

Olavi Huhtala, who is currently President of Ruukki Metals, has been
appointed to head the new division resulting from the merger. He has
served Rautaruukki in a number of executive positions since 1987.
With effect from 1 February 2009, Ruukki Metals' management board
will comprise: Olavi Huhtala, President of the division; Kari
Lehtinen, Senior Vice President, Sales; Sakari Kallo, Senior Vice
President, Production; Pekka Kangas, Senior Vice President, Supply
Chain Management and Riku Mäkinen, Senior Vice President, Finance and
Controlling.

Under the terms of his contract, Heikki Rusila, who is currently
president of Ruukki Production, will retire in late 2009. As of 1
February 2009, Heikki Rusila will serve as senior adviser to
management, with responsibility for investment services, energy and
environmental matters and corporate-wide safety development and
related improvements. Rusila reports to President & CEO Sakari
Tamminen.

As of 1 February 2009, Rautaruukki's Corporate Management Board will
comprise: Sakari Tamminen (chairman), President & CEO; Mikko
Hietanen, CFO and deputy to the President & CEO; Saku Sipola,
President, Ruukki Construction; Tommi Matomäki, President, Ruukki
Engineering; Olavi Huhtala, President, Ruukki Metals and Marko
Somerma, Chief Strategy Officer.



For further information, please contact:
Sakari Tamminen, President & CEO, tel. [phone]


Rautaruukki Corporation

Anne Pirilä
SVP, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations

Rautaruukki supplies metal-based components, systems and integrated
systems to the construction and engineering industries. The company
has a wide selection of metal products and services. Rautaruukki has
operations in 26 countries and employs 15,000 people. Net sales in
2007 totalled EUR 3.9 billion. The company's share is quoted on
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (Rautaruukki Oyj: RTRKS). The Corporation uses
the marketing name Ruukki.



DISTRIBUTION:
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Main media
www.ruukki.com


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