Japan Major 4 Steels Secure More R&D Budget

Japanese major 4 major steel makers increase investment for research and development in fiscal 2012 started in April from fiscal 2011. Nippon Steel plans 48.1 billion yen of the investment, which is 3.2% higher than fiscal 2011 level. The investment increases by 2.1% to 34.2 billion yen for JFE Holdings, by 0.4% to 22.8 billion yen for Sumitomo Metal Industries and by 5.4% to 31.4 billion yen for Kobe Steel. Nisshin Steel plans 4.4 billion yen of the investment, which is 2.2% lower than fiscal 2011 level.

Nippon Steel plans 34.9 billion yen of the investment for steel business in fiscal 2012. The budget is 3.7 billion yen for engineering, 3.5 billion yen for chemical and 900 million yen for new materials. The firm seeks world top class of advanced technology while the firm expands the development activity to energy and environmental issues to offer total solutions.

JFE Holdings plans to focus on environment, energy and resource saving for fiscal 2012 to improve the advantage of the technology.

Sumitomo Metals plans 22.1 billion yen of the investment for steel business in fiscal 2012. The firm allocates the budget mainly in energy and automobile to accelerate the distinctiveness of the advanced technology.

Kobe Steel plans 6.2 billion yen of the investment for steel business in fiscal 2012. The budget is 2.8 billion yen for welding, 2.5 billion yen for aluminium and copper, 3.8 billion yen for machinery, 2.4 billion yen for natural resources and engineering and 3.9 billion yen for Kobelco Construction Machinery. The firm focuses on only one products and better manufacturing base.

Nisshin Steel plans to develop environmental friendly processes and total solutions for the steel users.