Kobe Steel Builds Up High-Grade Special Steel Production System

Kobe Steel starts the commercial operation of world most-advanced continuous bloom casting equipment, no.5 continuous bloom casting equipment, in Kobe works on September 1. The firm aims to increase the production rate of high-grade special steel products in the wire rod and bar businesses. The amount of investment is about 8.5 billion yen. The producing capacity of the equipment is 60,000 tonnes per month.Kobe works is the main productive base for wire rod and bar products which is the core businesses in Kobe Steel’s steel department. The new bloom casting equipment contributes to the production of high-grade special steel which is the material for spring for suspension or engine, gear, bolt and shaft for automobile.Kobe Steel concentrated know-how and technology cultivated as the steel and machine maker for the bloom casting equipment. The equipment minimizes buckle in fixing process by controlling of roll spacing or uniform and moderate mist spray, and can produce high-grade special steel which acquire world-leading surface and internal quality.Kobe works will stop no.4 continuous billet casting equipment after the operation start of no.5 bloom casting. The firm has total 3 bloom casting equipment, no.3 and no.5 bloom casting in Kobe works and no.2 bloom casting in Kakogawa works. The firm will raise the producing rate of high-grade special steel products by maximize utilization of 3 bloom casting and builds up the competitive power of wire rod and bar products.The firm will expand cubic capacity of no.3 blast furnace in Kobe works at the end of 2007 and establish strong presence as the high-grade special steel producing base with no.5 bloom casting. The firm plans to increase high-grade wire rod and bar production by 15% by fiscal 2008 ending March 2009.