JFE Steel’s West Japan Works Targets 20% Higher Productivity

JFE Steel’s West Japan works tries to improve the productivity by 20% from the level in second half of fiscal 2010 ended March 2011 when the production level is low under high yen rate and low level offshore market. The works focuses the production to new efficient and low cost line at each operation while the works reduces production at old and less efficient lines. The works tries to clear the better operation target through the across the board efforts including shorter idle time, faster rolling speed and shorter tap to tap time.

The works operates at lower than expected level in fiscal 2011 under slow export order while the works established annual 23 million tonnes of raw steel output capacity when the works restarted No.3 blast furnace at Fukuyama area in May 2011. The manager Hiromu Oka said the works tries to minimize the cost to maximize the profit. The each division of the works targets 20% higher productivity.

The works utilizes full capacity of No.7 continuous caster in Fukuyama area, which started operation in April 2010, while the works increases idle time for other less efficient casters. The works focuses hot rolling operation to Kurashiki area’s mill and then uses one mill of Fukuyama area and stops other mill during electricity expensive daytime. The works makes electrogalvanized steel at a line in Kurashiki area and 2 lines in Fukuyama area mainly for export while the domestic demand is slow. The works prepares for potential slower export by adjusting the electrogalvanizing operation.

The iron making operation tries to reduce the cost through lower coke consumption effort. The works started test of blast furnace top iron ore and coke mixed input technology at No.3 blast furnace in Fukuyama area as East Japan works. After the test, the West Japan works utilizes the technology at other furnaces to reduce coke consumption along with carbon dioxide emission.

West Japan works introduces Super-SINTER, which uses liquid natural gas for sinter making operation to reduce carbon dioxide emission. The works added the facility to 3 sinter plants in Kurashiki area by August 2011 and started the works to add the facility to 2 sinter plants in Fukuyama area.