JFE Steel Seeks More Functional Steel Powder for HEV and EV

JFE Steel’s steel powder sector builds up development and sales of new steel powder products used for electromagnetic components in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV). The sector’s sales ratio is about 70% for automobile industry. The sector’s production is increasing along recovery of automobile production. However, car market is forecasted to shift to HEV and EV from conventional gasoline vehicles. JFE Steel accelerates development of high functional electromagnetic steel powder to increase market shares.

JFE Steel has developed nickel-saving powder “FM series” while plans to develop new products with higher strength and lighter weight applied to automotive power train. The firm plans to add high strength powder to conventional FM 600 and FM 1000. FM 600 shows 1,000 MPa of tensile strength.

The firm’s steel powder output increased by 10.6% to average 5,200 tonnes per month in the last half of fiscal 2009 ended in March 2010 compared with the first half of fiscal 2009. Powder demand has recovered along automakers’ output recovery thanks to Japanese government’s tax credit measure. The firm forecasts steel powder output increases to average 5,500 tonnes per month in fiscal 2010, recovering to 90% of peak level in the first half of fiscal 2008.