Ruukki announced that it has joined Cleantech Finland, which represents clean technology companies. Ruukki's membership supports the company's goal to develop increasingly more energy efficient products and solutions for its customers.

Growing interest in green technology is reflected in Ruukki's business, especially in construction, the lifting, handling and transportation equipment industry and in the wind power industry.

Mr Toni Hemminki VP Energy and Environment at Ruukki said that "We are aiming at outstanding energy efficiency for our products. For the customer, this means innovations, light structures, lower energy costs and reduced emissions. There is a clear demand for new green technology products in many of our market areas and Cleantech Finland makes Finnish expertise on this front internationally known."

In construction, Ruukki has enhanced air tightness, especially in exterior wall products. This is a cost effective way to improve energy efficiency in new buildings. The environmental impacts of construction products are increasingly being rated according to international environmental classifications.

In addition, Ruukki is currently developing ground source heat solutions integrated into steel piles and solar power solutions integrated into façade claddings. Ruukki is also currently developing a new type of wind power tower structure, for example. The tower can be up to 160 meters high to benefit from better wind conditions higher up. The tower enables increased power generation and is well-suited to power production also inland.

Ruukki's special steel products improve product material efficiency, lighten product weight and enable structures with a longer useful life or higher load bearing capacity. New applications are continuously being identified for special steel products. One such application is the wall panels delivered for French trains. Use of Optim special steel has resulted in a significant reduction in the weight of these panels.

The Cleantech Finland project aims at supporting internationalization and growth within the Finnish clean technology sector. A large number of leading Finnish companies and specialist organizations are involved in the project.