Sumitomo Metals Idles 1 Electrogalvanizing Line

Sumitomo Metal Industries stopped operation of an electrogalvanizing line at Kashima works in March. The firm reduced one of the 2 lines to improve the operation efficiency when the demand decreases for appliances and other applications.

The major application of flat panel television is in slump while automobile steel already shifted to hot-dip galvanizing steel. Hitachi decided own production of flat panel TV while Panasonic, Sharp and other makers reduce the production. Japanese flat panel TV production decreased to a fifth level in February compared with a year earlier level.

Under the slow demand, Nippon Steel already stopped operation of an electrogalvanizing line at Kimitsu to improve the operation efficiency.