Kobe Steel Targets World’s Top Welding Business in 10 Years

Kobe Steel increases its welding business to the world’ top position in 10 years. The firm establishes the sales office in India as early as in 2010. The firm could establish the plant in 2-3 years later. The firm plans to increase the sales of welding material and machinery by cultivating the market of emerging countries and cooperating with machinery makers, said Mr. Tsuyoshi Kasuya, managing director and head of the welding business of Kobe Steel at the press conference held on Wednesday.

Kobe Steel has researched Indian market last six months and the firm decided to reinforce the business in India. The firm would send the engineer in India for the market research and technical support for users in the country. The firm could establish the sales office in Vietnam, Brazil and other emerging countries. The firm increases the production capacity of 2 welding wire manufacturing subsidiaries in China responding the growing demand in China.

Welding material shipment of Kobe Steel was estimated at 120,000-130,000 tonnes for domestic market and 150,000-160,000 tonnes for overseas market in fiscal 2009 ended March 2010 while the shipment was around annualized 360,000 tonnes in first half of fiscal 2008 before global recession.