During the late 1990s, new materials, steel grades and product concepts strengthened the company's offering and broadened its range of applications. In 1999, Garphyttan was granted a patent for Garba 177 Supreme, a high-performance material developed for demanding spring applications in diesel fuel systems. Development continued into the new century with new steel grades and production technologies for increasingly demanding applications. Market conditions also continued to evolve.
During the early 2000s, demand for some of the new high-strength valve spring wire grades developed more slowly than expected. As individually heat-treated valve springs gained a larger share of the market, development efforts shifted. The company adapted its development efforts accordingly, focusing on peeled, drawn and EC-tested wire products.
While product development continued, the company's international footprint expanded further. In 2006, a third valve spring wire production facility was inaugurated in Suzhou, China. The new facility was established to support the rapidly growing Chinese market for valve springs and meet increasing customer demand in the region. With production facilities in Garphyttan, South Bend and Suzhou, and a sales office in Düsseldorf, the company now had a presence in Europe, North America and Asia.
Looking back, this decade was defined by both technical development and international expansion. Patented innovations, new production technologies and continued product development strengthened the company's position, while new manufacturing facilities transformed the business into a global operation.
What had once been a single manufacturing site in Sweden had become an international company with production on three continents. The foundations were now in place for the next stage of the company's development.
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