SteelNews.com Article
Kobe Steel Completes 10,000-Tonne Forging Press
Jul. 27, 2010 Kobe Steel, Ltd. has completed the construction of a 10,000-tonne forging press line at its Takasago Works in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan.
Kobe Steel invested about 22 billion yen to enlarge the Forging Section's South Plant to house an entire production line. In addition to the new press, a manipulator, heating furnace, heat treatment furnace, crane, and other equipment were installed. Construction of the press began in April 2008.
The new press is designed to produce large and long steel forgings at what Kobe Steel says are “some of the world's highest speeds” and with high precision. The press has the capability to manufacture nearly all varieties of large forged products for ships.
Kobe Steel now has a total of three free-forging presses. Forged products for ships will be manufactured mainly by the new press and the existing 4000-tonne press. Ultra-large forgings that require higher forging capacity will be made by the 13,000-tonne press.
The new press is Kobe Steel's largest capital investment since the 13,000-tonne press was installed in 1975.