Nippon Kinzoku to Raise Magnesium Alloy Production to 60 Tonnes in F2013

Nippon Kinzoku, Japanese stainless steel re-roller, regards magnesium alloy business as the company’s fourth core business and plans to increase the production by about 30% to 60 tonnes per year until fiscal 2013 ending in March 2014 from the current volume. Nippon Kinzoku aims to become the top supplier of magnesium alloy rolled products in Japan by following the demand growth related to digital mobiles. The firm currently finished sample shipment of new magnesium alloy, LZ 91, which includes 9% lithium and plans the commercial production in fiscal 2012.

Nippon Kinzoku plans to increase the sales volume of magnesium alloy products such as foil, for which the orders are currently increasing from domestic and overseas users. Mr. Masanori Hiraishi, president of Nippon Kinzoku, explained magnesium products can contribute to weight saving and downsizing of smart phones, and showed an intention to grow up the magnesium business globally.

The firm developed LZ91 for the first time in the world. LZ91 is focused as the lightest metal among commercially utilized metals, which can be processed at a normal temperature. Magnesium products weighs one-fifth of iron, half of titanium and two-thirds of aluminum. But magnesium products’ production cost is still high mainly due to low processability. Nippon Kinzoku successfully realized extruding of the alloy and reduced production cost largely.

Nippon Kinzoku can commercially produce AZ61, AZ 80, AM60 and AZ31. LZ91 will be added to the lineup and the firm aims to raise the world market share.