Japan's Kobe Steel Plans Capacity Increase at Wire Rod Processing Mill
11/10/2015 - Kobe Special Steel Wire Products Co. Ltd. said it will invest 1.3 billion yen in new pickling equipment and expects to boost capacity by about 40 percent per month.
The China-based business, a joint venture among Japan’s Kobe Steel Ltd. and five other companies, processes wire rod into cold heading steel wire. The wire is then used to make bolts, nuts and bearings for Japanese auto parts manufacturers in China.
In a statement, Kobe Steel, which is the joint venture’s largest stakeholder, said Kobe Special Steel is the largest supplier of cold heading wire to that market. It expects to boost production from 3,500 metric tons per month to 4,900 metric tons per month.
The new equipment is scheduled for start-up in December 2016.
Kobe Special Steel sources its wire rod entirely from Kobe Steel. The project is the business’ fourth capacity increase since entering full-scale production in 2009.
In a statement, Kobe Steel, which is the joint venture’s largest stakeholder, said Kobe Special Steel is the largest supplier of cold heading wire to that market. It expects to boost production from 3,500 metric tons per month to 4,900 metric tons per month.
The new equipment is scheduled for start-up in December 2016.
Kobe Special Steel sources its wire rod entirely from Kobe Steel. The project is the business’ fourth capacity increase since entering full-scale production in 2009.
