Sumitomo Metals to install Large Hammer for Large Crankshaft

Sumitomo Metal Industries announced on Thursday to decided to introduce 50 tones-meter counter blow hammer at the Osaka Steel Works in the Railway Automotive & Machinery Parts Company in a move to respond to an expanding market for large size crankshafts. The hammer will be one of the largest of its type in Japan. The demand for large crankshafts is expanding because the demand for electric dynamo, marine vessel or construction machinery in the world and engine is growing in size. The firm expects new demand for pomp for excavation of oil. The investment of new hammer is about 2 billion yen. The hammer’s production capacity is 5,000 tonnes per year. The firm will start operation of the hammer at August 2009.The firm is advancing business strategy, Global 10, which aims to take the share of crankshaft for mainly automobile at over 10% in the world. The firm will build up the production capacity of high quality large size crankshaft by the introduction of large hammer.Osaka Steel Works has 5,000 tonnes press line and 16,000 tonnes press line, which is producing crankshaft for passenger car and large, middle and small track and construction machinery. Large crankshaft for marine vessel and electric dynamo is produced by 35 tonnes meter counter blow hammer until 700 tonnes weight of the material. 50 tonnes meter counter blow hammer can larger size crankshaft at 900 tonnes weight of the material.