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Nippon Steel, BlueScope Steel Sign Joint Technical Collaboration Agreement
Jul. 29, 2010 Nippon Steel Corp. (NSC) and BlueScope Steel Ltd. (BSL) have signed a long-term joint technical collaboration agreement to develop next-generation coated steel products for the global building and construction market.
Under this collaboration, both parties will conduct further joint research and development utilizing each other's facilities for research, production, and processing.
The new product technologies will reportedly improve corrosion resistance performance, formability, and surface clearness compared to the current product. Both companies will announce in the future their expected market-launch time frames.
Regarding implementation of these new technologies, BlueScope Steel's Chief Executive, Australian Coated and Industrial Markets, Paul O'Keefe said: "The products will be launched initially in Australia and then rolled out across the company's footprint. We are currently finalizing our implementation plans, which include working through the standards and codes revision processes, as required under Standards Australia and the Building Code of Australia. We…anticipate that product launches will occur over the next couple of years."
This technical agreement is underpinned by a 40-year working relationship between BSL and NSC. In 2005, the two companies entered into a distributorship agreement on SUPERDYMA®, targeting the building and construction market in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Nippon Steel has consolidated annual crude steel production of 40 million tonnes.
BlueScope Steel is Australia's largest steel manufacturer, producing around 7 million tonnes of steel per year. The company operates in 17 countries and has more than 18,000 employees worldwide.