Sumitomo Metals’ ICI Subsidiary Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Production Start-up
05/17/2012 - Sumitomo Metal Industries subsidiary International Crankshaft Inc., the company’s Kentucky-based U.S. manufacturing and sales base for forged crankshafts, recently held a ceremony celebrating its 20th anniversary of operation.
Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. subsidiary International Crankshaft Inc. (ICI), Sumitomo’s Kentucky-based U.S. manufacturing and sales base for forged crankshafts, recently held a ceremony celebrating its 20th anniversary of operation.
ICI opened its first production line in 1992, as a frontrunner to achieve Sumitomo Metals’ slogan of “Global 10”. The slogan reflected the company’s aim of acquiring a 10% global share in crankshafts. ICI installed its second line in 1996, and the third line, a high-speed forging press, in 2008, in order to satisfy demand growth in North America.
ICI’s 20th anniversary celebration was attended by Sumitomo Metals President Dr. Tomono as well as Mayor Everette Varney of Georgetown and around 110 guests. Dr. Tomono expressed appreciation to the people of the community and business partners who have supported ICI for the past 20 years. Dr. Tomono also affirmed his commitment to ICI’s further development, which he said would be achieved together with business partners and local residents by responding to customer needs and supplying high-performance crankshafts.
ICI plans to manufacture approximately 2 million crankshafts in 2012 and is considering capacity expansion as it expects to manufacture over 3 million in 2015, exceeding the present capacity of approximately 2.7 million units, in 2015.
