Kobe Steel to Double Aluminium Extrusion for Auto Bumper

Kobe Steel’s Aluminum & Copper Company will almost double its aluminium extrusion production for automotive bumper structures to 50,000 units per month in the second half of fiscal 2007 ending March 2008 from current 26,000 units per month. The firm plans to increase the output to 60,000 units per month in fiscal 2008 and 80,000 units per month in fiscal 2009 to meet the orders from automakers.The Aluminum & Copper Company aims to raise the sales ratio of auto related products to 25% in fiscal 2008 from 20% in fiscal 2005. The firm targets sales expansion for aluminium bumper, aluminium panel and aluminium forging products. As to copper alloy products, the firm will enhance its original copper alloy plate for automotive connector pins.Kobe Steel estimates aluminium panel is recently used for automotive exterior body panel at around 1,500 tonnes per month and expects the demand could increase to around 4,000 tonnes per month in future with a background vehicles become lighter for less fuel consumption and better environmental responsiveness.Kobe Steel’s aluminium extrusion output is expected to total 3,500 tonnes per month at Chofu plant in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan in the first half of fiscal 2007. The output volume is slightly less than originally planned. The firm plans to increase the output to 3,950 tonnes per month in the second half of fiscal 2007.