Nippon Light Metal Triples Alumina Capacity at Shimizu Plant

Nippon Light Metal announced on Wednesday the firm finished high purity alumina making capacity expansion of Shimizu plant in Shizuoka to increase the capacity to 3.3 times at monthly 1,000 tonnes. The firm has increased the capacity to respond growing high purity alumina demand for raw material of light emitting diode sapphire substrate. The firm held the ceremony at the plant on Tuesday.

Nippon Light Metal decided the capacity expansion at Shimizu plant in September 2010 to build aluminium hydroxides making line including furnace and other facilities for around 2.3 billion yen. The firm launches commercial operation in October.

High purity alumina had been used as raw material of ceramics and the demand is increasing for sapphire substrate. Nippon Light Metal has increased the capacity to respond growing demand from Japanese and offshore users.