San-Etsu Metals Integrates Nitto Metal Industry

San-Etsu Metals, a Japanese major brass bar maker, integrates Nitto Metal Industry, another Japanese brass bar maker of Sumitomo Light Metal Industries Group, and becomes the largest brass maker in Japan on 1 October, 2007. Hiroyuki Tsuriya, president of San-Etsu Metals, explained the aims and the issues for the integration to Japan Metal Bulletin. San-Etsu Metals firstly advances productive and technologic cooperation with Ishioka plant of Nitto Metal Industry for more effective management.Mr. Tsuriya explained brass bar demand has declined domestically while brass bar import has increased from China and South Korea. He stated Japanese brass bar makers are weaker in business scale and international competitiveness. San-Etsu Metals decided to merge with another maker with these backgrounds. San-Etsu Metals appreciated Nitto Metal Industry’s productive facilities. Mr. Tsuriya mentioned Nitto Metal Industry’s 500-tonne class extruder is the highest-level equipment in Japan which can manufacture 300-millimeter-diameter brass bar. San-Etsu Metals’ 3,350-tonne class indirect extruder can manufacture same diameter brass bar and is compatible with Nitto Metal Industry’s 500t class extruder, he said. A straight bar line of Nitto Metal Industry was also appreciated to produce wider and better brass bar. Mr. Tsuriya explained Ishioka plant keeps equal operation as present by April 2008 and would produce different products from Tonami and Takaoka plants of San-Etsu Metals in future. The new productive system would be organized after several years, he said.