Outokumpu automates stainless steel testing with ZwickRoell
Case Study
- Customer: Outokumpu Stainless USA LLC
- Location: Calvert, Alabama, USA
- Industry: Metals, stainless steel
- Topic: Automated tensile testing of stainless steel specimens in production-related quality control
July 2026
Outokumpu requires continuous, standards-compliant mechanical test results in stainless steel production as a basis for quality assurance and production. With an automated testing solution based on the Z250 AllroundLine, specimen feeding, testing and removal are automated. This reduces operator workload and the influence of manual intervention on the test results.
Outokumpu: Sustainable stainless steel for global industries
Outokumpu is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sustainable stainless steel, headquartered in Finland. The company produces stainless steel products for industries such as infrastructure, energy, chemicals, consumer goods and industrial manufacturing. At its Calvert, Alabama site in the USA, Outokumpu operates one of North America’s most advanced stainless steel mills and relies on modern production processes and continuous quality monitoring.
ZwickRoell top competences
- Automation of specimen handling and testing workflow
- Reduction of operator influence
- Standards-compliant tensile testing according to ASTM and ISO requirements
- Integration into production-related quality control
- Z250 AllroundLine as the basis of the testing solution
- Continuous testing for high specimen volumes
The task
Efficiently managing high testing volumes for quality assurance and production monitoring
In stainless steel production, large numbers of specimens are generated continuously and must be tested as part of quality assurance and production monitoring. Tensile tests play an important role in reliably determining mechanical properties and ensuring compliance with customer and standards requirements.
Without an automated handling system, specimens would have to be fed manually, tests started individually and remnants removed. This would slow down the testing process and increase operator workload. Outokumpu therefore looked for a solution that supports ASTM and ISO requirements while enabling a continuous testing process.
The ZwickRoell solution
Automated testing with the Z250 AllroundLine
ZwickRoell provides an automated testing solution based on the Z250 AllroundLine integrated into Outokumpu’s production-related quality control. Specimens can be safely loaded into the magazine while the system continues running and prepares the next test.
Once started, specimen feeding, testing and removal are performed automatically. This significantly reduces manual work per specimen and enables a continuous testing workflow. At the same time, operator influence on the test results is minimized, contributing to reproducible and reliable results. The solution fulfills the ASTM and ISO requirements used by Outokumpu for tensile testing of metallic materials and is designed for continuous use in production-related quality control.
„ZwickRoell’s automated solution integrates seamlessly into our production monitoring. Feeding, testing and removal run automatically, significantly reducing manual effort."
Starla Pierce, Laboratory Technician at Outokumpu Stainless
The result
Reliable test results in continuous operation
The automated testing solution enables Outokumpu to continuously provide reliable mechanical test results for production and quality assurance. Automated specimen feeding, testing and removal make the testing process more efficient and significantly reduce manual intervention. Key benefits include a continuous testing workflow, reduced operator influence and reliable test data for every specimen, every batch and every production day.
