Sumitomo Metals Finish to Modernize Steel Making at Kokura

Sumitomo Metals (Kokura) completed 27 billion yen program to modernize steel making shop by starting the operation of dephosphorization furnace, announced on Friday. The firm launched secondary refining facilities operation in December 2009. The firm enhances high grade special steel bar supply chain for automobile through the new optimum dephosphorization and decarburization process, which enable higher steel quality, higher efficiency and lower environmental impact.

Sumitomo Metals (Kokura) introduced simple refining process, which separates the removal process of phosphorus and carbon. The process was developed by Sumitomo Metal Industries and introduced at Wakayama steel works. Sumitomo Metals (Kokura) also introduced new SRP-Z process, which Sumitomo Metals developed to spray powdered dephosphorization agent to molten steel.

The firm built No.2 ladle furnace, No.2 ruhrstahl-heraeus degasser and No.4 continuous caster as the first phase of the modernization program by December 2009. The new process can improve the steel quality by separating processes of super clean steel and super functional steel.