Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal to Consolidate High-tensile Strength Bolt Business

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal announced on 29th that Nippon Steel & Sumikin Precision Forge which is a subsidiary for manufacturing of bolt and NS Bolten signed a letter of intent to integrate high-tensile strength bolt (HTB) business. Nippon Steel & Sumikin Precision Forge will stop main manufacture lines of HTB in Handa factory, and consolidate to NS Bolten in the end of May 2012. The joint firm strengthens competitiveness like improvement in availability factor and cost cut because of the efficiency of output system. The joint firm’s market share for HTB is expected to reach to around 50%. NS Bolten, corporate name, will be altered to “Nippon Steel & Sumikin Metal Bolten” on January 1st 2013.