Kobe Steel to Expand Takasago’s Crankshaft Output by 40-50% by 2010

Kobe Steel announced on Monday the firm expands steelmaking and casting capacity at Takasago plant, Hyogo for around 30 billion yen. The firm expands the forging capacity from current 7,000 tonnes per month to 10,000 tonnes with new press machine to increase the crankshaft output for diesel vessels. The firm expands the crankshaft output to 5.4 million units for fabricated products and to 3,600 units for combined products in 2010, which is 50% and 40% higher than fiscal 2007. The firm expands the sales by more than 50% to 50 billion yen for casting and forging business by 2010. Worldwide vessel crankshaft demand is expected to increase when Japanese shipbuilders plan output increase through 2012 and worldwide shipbuilding activity increases. Kobe Steel tries to meet the higher demand as the world no.1 supplier with 40% world share for fabricated products and 50% share for combined products. The firm adds new press machine for 20 billion yen, expands machinery processing facility for 6 billion yen and expands steelmaking and casting capacity for 4 billion yen. The press machine is for forging with higher speed and precision for products for large vessels. The firm also expects higher productivity with flexible production system through combination with existing 13,000 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes press machines. The additional machinery processing facility is to improve the productivity while the higher capacity for steel making and casting is to increase the throughput from steelmaking to casting.