JFE Steel’s HBL Plate Output Doubles in F2008

JFE Steel, Japanese major steel maker, announced on Tuesday the firm’s output of high tensile plate, HBL 385, totaled 18,600 tonnes for building materials in fiscal 2008 ended in March 2009, which doubled from fiscal 2007. The firm will continue appeals to the users and expand the sales to 20,000 tonnes for large buildings in fiscal 2009.

HBL 385 is thermo mechanical control process plate for building materials. JFE Steel started the production in Keihin area of East Japan iron works and Fukuyama area of West Japan iron works in fiscal 2002. The firm got approval of transportation minister in 2002. The firm can provide the sizes with 19-100 millimeters thickness and 1,000-5,200 millimeters width.

Yield resistance is 385 Newton per millimeter square while charpy impact test showed over 70 joule. HBL 385 can reduce weight of structure by 15% compared with existing steel plate. Because HBL 385 has high earthquake protection, weldability and economic potential, HBL 385 is used by wide range of users.

HBL 385 is used mainly for box columns, other applications such as welded H-beams, circular steel tube s and cold square steel tubes. HBL 385’s adoption is increasing for large buildings, for example, surrounding buildings of Tokyo Sky Tree, the new tallest tower in Japan.HBL output totaled 44,000 tonnes for fiscal 2002-2008.