Sumitomo Corp. to Expand Nonferrous Metal Business

Sumitomo Corporation’s nonferrous metal business unit tries to expand battery materials business including solar battery while the unit expands secondary aluminium alloy supply for automobile. The firm expands the battery business through the wholly owned subsidiary, Sumisho Metalex Corporation. The firm tries to develop market for module parts for solar battery when the power generation will expand to 10 giga watt in 2010 compared with 2.5 giga watt in 2006. The unit also expands the alloyed aluminium supply for automobile through the subsidiary, Summit Showa Aluminum, which operates 4 plants with around 180,000 tonnes of annual output. The joint venture with Showa Denko tries to meet higher demand for automakers to reduce weight.