Daido Steel to Add New Precise Forging Machine at Chita

Daido Steel announced on Tuesday the firm adds a high speed precision hot forging machine, HBP160SS made by Sakamura Machine at Chita plant starting operation in January 2007. The firm expands the output capacity by around 10,000 tonnes per month with total 15 machines including new machine at Ohio Star Forge in USA, which starts operation in July. The one of the world largest makers tries to increase the output to meet growing demand for automobile industry. The firm produces automotive parts and bearing parts with near net shapes at high speed precision hot forging machines with total monthly 6,000 tonnes of capacity, of which the firm has 5 in Chita and 5 in Kimitsu. The firm expands the machines in USA from 3 to 4 totaling 2,500 tonnes of capacity. The firm adds the new machine at Chita, which has integrated processes from steel products to parts, to meet higher demand for mid-sized parts including transmission gear of automobile. The firm expects higher productivity with the new machine by leveling the operation among machines. The new machine has higher productivity with high speed mold changing system while the machine enables to reduce cost and lead time through the integrated processes from forging to normalizing. The machine also enables to improve the preciseness with less handling damage through the better machining and mold structure. The machine with 800 tonnes of press capacity can make products with 45-103 millimeters of diameter, 10-69 mm of height and max 1.2 kilogram of weight. With the new machine with 1,000 tonnes of monthly capacity, the domestic output capacity will increase to 7,000 tonnes. The firm plans to increase the sales to 20 billion yen in fiscal 2008 ending March 2009 from 15.5 billion yen in fiscal 2005.