Sankyo Tateyama Develops New Casting Technology for Mg Alloy

Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium developed casting technology for sulfur hexafluoride free (SF6 free) magnesium alloy at commercial production level for the first time in the world. The firm plans to establish productive system for SF6 free magnesium alloy billet at 400 tonnes annual capacity and to utilize the billet for applications such as automotive structural materials. Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium will keep business growth for aluminium construction materials, the main products of the firm, and expand non-construction field businesses such as magnesium in the future.The new casting technology was co-developed by Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Daido Steel and Japan Steel Works subsidized by New Energy & Industrial Technology Development Organization.Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium supplies SF6 free magnesium alloy billet and the other 3 firms manufacture the billet into any applications for sales. Toyama Alloy, a group company of Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium, produces SF6 free magnesium alloy billet. Toyama Alloy holds aluminium billet output capacity at approximately 17,000 tonnes per month, the top level in Japan, and will establish a casting line specialized for magnesium alloy billet for commercial production.At the same time, Sankyo Tateyama Aluminium developed another technology to extrude SF6 free magnesium alloy at maximum size as large as 12 inches diameter. The extrusion showed mechanical functions as strong as aluminium alloy. The firm targets to apply the magnesium alloy extrusions to motorcycles, railway vehicles and construction materials such for floors.