NSSC Triples Duplex Stainless Users

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation announced on Wednesday users of the strategic item of duplex stainless steel increased to 20 companies from 7 in 2009. The firm completed investment in August to add pickling facilities and cold-plate leveler at Yawata works for around 6 billion yen. With the investment, the firm increased the monthly duplex output capacity from 1,000 tonnes to 3,000 tonnes while the firm now can make world widest level of duplex with 4 meters width.

NSSC aims to increase duplex stainless steel supply to meet worldwide growing demand for seawater desalination plant, petrochemical plant, chemical tanker and liquid natural gas facilities. The firm aims to increase duplex stainless steel to around 30% of stainless steel plate sales when duplex products already represents around 30% of stainless plate demand in Germany where the demand structure is similar to Japan.