Kobe Steel to Increase Titanium Production Capacity; Capital Investments to Cover Upstream to Downstream Processes.Tokyo, Japan, Jan 24, 2007 - (JCN JCN Japan Corporate News JCN Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience JCN Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing JCN Journal of Christian Nursing JCN Job Control Number JCN Journal of Child Neurology JCN joint communications network (US DoD) Newswire) - Kobe Steel Kobe Steel, Ltd. (株式会社神戸製鋼所 , Ltd. plans to invest a total of roughly 5 billion yen in four projects to upgrade and expand its titanium titanium (tītā`nēəm, tĭ–) [from Titan], metallic chemical element; symbol Ti; at. no. 22; at. wt. 47.88; m.p. 1,675°C;; b.p. 3,260°C;; sp. gr. 4.54 at 20°C;; valence +2, +3, or +4. production facilities. Kobe Steel will construct a new titanium melting shop at its Takasago Works in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan to be completed in January 2008. It will also upgrade the counterblow coun·ter·blow n. A blow delivered in return. Noun 1. counterblow - a return blow; a retaliatory blow blow - a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon; "a blow on the head" hammer for closed die forging at Takasago and construct a new welded tube line at group company Kobe Special Tube Co., Ltd. in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Both projects are scheduled for completion in May 2007. Completed last month was an expansion of the continuous annealing-pickling line for titanium sheet at Kakogawa Works in Hyogo Prefecture. The projects will increase the integrated production A farming system that produces high quality food and other products by using natural resources and regulating mechanisms to replace polluting inputs and to secure sustainable farming. capacity of titanium mill products, enabling Kobe Steel to manufacture more titanium alloy Titanium alloys are metallic materials which contain a mixture of titanium and other chemical elements. Such alloys have very high tensile strength and toughness (even at extreme temperatures), light weight, extraordinary corrosion resistance, and ability to withstand extreme forgings for next-generation aircraft engines and meet the growing demand in China and the Middle East for pure titanium products used in infrastructure projects. The capital investments cover Kobe Steel's titanium production facilities at all locations including Takasago Works, Kakogawa Works and Kobe Special Tube. Under its Fiscal 2006-2008 Medium-Term Business Plan, Kobe Steel is aiming to increase sales and add further value to its "Only One" upper-end products. Japan's titanium industry has been undergoing strong growth in recent years, and production and shipments of titanium mill products are anticipated to be robust in fiscal year 2006, ending in March 2007. In addition to Japanese manufacturers, this trend is similar worldwide. Bolstered by rising aircraft orders and growing demand from the energy industries, demand for titanium products is brisk. Kobe Steel pioneered Japan's titanium industry when in 1949 it became the first company to begin research and development of this material. With over a half century of experience, Kobe Steel is Japan's only integrated producer of titanium mill products with operations ranging from melting to mill product manufacturing. The company contributes to the development of industry by supplying a wide variety of titanium mill products. Information on Kobe Steel is available at: www.kobelco.co.jp Upstream capital investment 1. Construction of additional titanium melt shop at Takasago Works Location: Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture Start-up: January 2008 The new melt shop will be built adjacent to the current melt shops to stabilize stabilize See peg. production and improve operational efficiency. Production capacity is anticipated to increase 30% to 40%. The new shop will use the company's proprietary "Kobe method" (vacuum arc remelting Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR) is a secondary melting process for production of metal ingots with elevated chemical and mechanical homogeneity for highly demanding applications. method), which makes possible the use of titanium scrap. Kobe Steel intends to make the new facility the most cost competitive melt shop in Japan. Kobe Steel has also started mulling mulling (mul´ing), n the final step of mixing dental amalgam; a kneading of the triturated mass to complete the amalgamation. a further capacity increase. Downstream capital investments 2. Upgrade of the counterblow hammer for closed die forging at Takasago Works Location: Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture Start-up: May 2007 Investment: Computer control and stabilization of hammer blow
Japan's largest counterblow hammer is used to manufacture closed die forgings for jet engine disks. Supporting the growing aircraft business of Japan's heavy industry manufacturers, Kobe Steel is meeting the need for value-added titanium alloy forged products used in aircraft engine disks and other applications. 3. Higher production capacity of continuous annealing-pickling line at Kakogawa Works Location: Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture Start-up: December 2006 (already in operation) The dedicated continuous annealing-pickling line for titanium sheet, the only one of its type in the world, went back into operation last month. Throughput capacity has increased roughly by 30%. The hot and cold strip mills, located adjacent and used in steel production, also roll titanium sheet. The proximity to the strip mills contributes to maintaining and improving the integrated quality assurance system for titanium sheet products. 4. Construction of new titanium welded tube line at Kobe Special Tube Location: Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture Start-up: May 2007 The new dedicated line at Japan's largest titanium welded tube plant will increase production capacity by 30%. It will help meet demand from power plants in China, seawater seawater Water that makes up the oceans and seas. Seawater is a complex mixture of 96.5% water, 2.5% salts, and small amounts of other substances. Much of the world's magnesium is recovered from seawater, as are large quantities of bromine. desalination desalination or desalting Removal of dissolved salts from seawater and from the salty waters of inland seas, highly mineralized groundwaters, and municipal wastewaters. plants in the Middle East, and other applications. In addition to the higher production capacity, the layout will be improved, which will further increase productivity. About Kobe Steel, Ltd. Kobe Steel is one of Japan's top manufacturers of aluminum and copper products. It is also a leading steelmaker in Japan. Other businesses include welding welding, process for joining separate pieces of metal in a continuous metallic bond. Cold-pressure welding is accomplished by the application of high pressure at room temperature; forge welding (forging) is done by means of hammering, with the addition of heat. consumables, industrial machinery, engineering, construction equipment, and electronic materials. More information is available at: www.kobelco.co.jp Source: Kobe Steel, Ltd. Contact: Gary Tsuchida Publicity Group Kobe Steel, Ltd. Tel: +81-3-5739-6010 Fax :+81-3-5739-5971 E-mail: www-admin@kobelco.co.jp Copyright [c] 2007 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K. |
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