Thai Tinplate to Expand Output with New Tinning Line

Thai tinplate making joint venture, Thai Tinplate Manufacturing (TTP) plans to increase the output to 350,000-400,000 tonnes in 2006 from 247,000 tonnes in 2005. The firm started operation of the new no.4 electrolytic tinning line (ETL) with 150,000 tonnes of annual output capacity in March expanding the output capacity by 22%. The firm tries to realize the expansion advantage including the better productivity by pumping up the new line when the actual demand improves along with progress of inventory adjustment in Thailand. The firm started hot running the no.4 ETL on March 13, which was 4 months ahead of original schedule starting the commercial production in the end of March. The firm expended around 5 billion yen for the new line to replace old no.1 line started 1973. The output capacity increased from 360,000 tonnes to around 440,000 tonnes per year after stop of no.1 line with 70,000 tonnes of capacity depending on the new line operation.