Daido Steel Strengthens Highly Functional Materials Business

Daido Steel, Japanese major special steel maker, aims to strengthen the profitability for the highly functional materials business unit including thin film deposition electronic materials, metal powders, titanium, welding materials along its mid-term management plan for fiscal 2006-2008 ending March 2009. The firm aims to increase the sales by 50%, to double the profit and to improve ROA (Return on Assets) to over 25% for the unit in fiscal 2008 from fiscal 2005. The firm targets 35-40 billion yen of sales for the unit in fiscal 2011.

Daido Steel aims to increase the sales by around 20% per year for each 3 businesses including metal powder, titanium and thin film deposition electronic materials. The firm started the full operation of 2 melting furnaces for metal powders in August, of which the firm doubled the output capacity. The firm also started amorphous powder business into operation. The firm plans to reform the productive system for titanium in order to accelerate the development of new products and to strengthen the output capacity. The firm also advances the development of thin film materials for electronic fields.

Daido Steel plans to expand the sales channel for titanium welding wire called “G Coat” for automobile, airplane and industrial machines in the welding business. The firm will increase investment for the research & development by 50% to improve productive processes and functions of G Coat more. The firm grows up world top products and increases the overseas sales ratio to over 35% during the 3 years.