Mitsui Sumitomo Joint Company to Start Non-Operating Casting Machine in Mie

Mitsui Sumitomo Metal Mining Brass & Copper examines to start a non-operating horizontal continuous casting machine in Mie plant, Japan. Mitsui Sumitomo Metal Mining Brass & Copper is a new company starting on July 1 by integration of copper alloy fabricating business of Mitsui Mining & Smelting and Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM). The new company will draw a conclusion within this year and may start the operation in early 2011. Mie plant’s output capacity increases by 600 tonnes per month if the machine drives.

Mie plant is now operated by Sumitomo Metal Mining Brass & Copper, SMM’s 100% subsidiary. The plant has 3 horizontal continuous casting machines, one of those which hasn’t operated. SMM has partially purchased bare copper alloy strips from domestic and offshore third parties. If the non-operating machine starts, the firm can cover bare strip consumption by themselves and cost down effect is expected.

A horizontal continuous casting machine draws billets horizontally by a casting machine directly connected to a holding furnace. After rejecting an oxide layer on billets’ surface, drawn billets are rolled to coil forms. The machine enables casting size near to finished products.