Kobe Steel to Improve Ultra High Tensile Steel Supply

Kobe Steel develops high tensile steel sheet with more than 980 mega pascal of strength to serve lighter weight and better safety of automobile. The firm tries to improve the world supply network through US joint venture, PRO-TEC Coating Company and partnership with Voestalpine Stahl of Austria. Japanese demand for high tensile steel with more than 980MPa is estimated to be around 200,000 tonnes per year mainly for sheet and body structure of automobile. Kobe Steel supplies more than 10,000 tonnes per month of the high tensile steel. Automakers try to reduce the automobile weight when European Commission reduces carbon dioxide emission of car to 130 kilogram per kilometer by 2012 compared with 140 kg of European Automotive Manufacturing Association’s voluntary target in 2008. Automakers try also to improve the safety level. Kobe Steel improves the supply ability of high tensile steel by utilizing the technology developed through the special steel production. The firm tries to improve the workability for the hard material by developing application technology including pressing and roll forming.