Osaka Steel Renews Billet Caster for More Export

Japanese major electric furnace steel maker, Osaka Steel completed renewal of finishing part of continuous billet caster at Kumamoto plant. The firm improves the competitiveness in international billet export market when the firm can now make billet with maximum 6 meters long through the renewal. The firm eyes potential billet export from Kumamoto plant depending on market condition.

The firm also completes renewal of continuous billet caster at Sakai plant in Osaka by end of fiscal 2011 ending in March 2012 as a series of the more than 1 billion yen of modernization since 2009. The firm already launched test run of electromagnetic stirrer, nitrogen gas free casting system and powdering system to improve the quality of billet. The firm could make billet with less impurities and air hole.

Osaka Steel will also finish the improvement of rolling mill at Sakai plant by end of fiscal 2011. The firm has been working on the improvement since 2005. At the plant, the firm will be able to make large elevator guide rail, which was made at Okajima plant in Osaka. The firm also improves the cooling system and finishing facility at the Sakai plant.