Nippon Steel to Improve Higher Tensile Auto Steel Supply Ability

Nippon Steel tries to improve the supply ability of high tensile flat steel for automakers when the automakers try to reduce the automobile weight and to improve the crash safety under severer regulation for carbon dioxide emission and safety. Nippon Steel improves the solution including materials, pressing process and welding technology through tie-up with automakers and parts makers.

Nippon Steel expects consumption of the high tensile flat steel with more than 440 mega pascal by automotive body increases to 70% in years from current 50%. The firm expects automakers will use higher tensile steel with more than 980MPa in and after 2009.

The firm tries to improve productivity of the hot press for high tensile steel with 980MPa or more strength through development of smaller heat furnace, faster heat treating and better process speed for in process transportation and press processing. The firm tries to improve the scale guard aluminium plating surface treatment and the welding technology for automakers to use higher tensile flat steel.