Ricoh, Tokyo Steel Develop Electric Furnace Flat Steel for Office Equipment

Ricoh Company announced on Tuesday the firm and Tokyo Steel Manufacturing developed electric furnace steel based chromate free hot dip galvanizing steel for office equipment parts. Ricoh starts to use the steel for multiple task machine launched in fiscal 2012. The firm uses the electric furnace steel based flat steel for office equipment as the first attempt.

Ricoh targets 85% cut of new resource from the earth by 2050. The firm tries to improve the eco-friendly project through the electric furnace steel use from domestic ferrous scrap. The firm starts the attempt at domestic plant at first and would expand the use to offshore plants.

Integrated steel makers had dominant position as electro-galvanizing steel supplier for multiple task office equipment. Ricoh and Tokyo Steel started the joint development in 2009 to improve the workability of electric furnace steel based flat steel. Tokyo Steel succeeded to meet Ricoh’s requirements including thinner steel making and coating and better workability. Ricoh and Tokyo Steel continue the joint effort to improve the flat steel performance in order to expand the applications.