Japan Steel Works
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Japan Steel Works, Ltd. (株式会社日本製鋼所 Kabushikigaisya Nihon Seikōsho?) (TYO: 5631) is a steel manufacturer founded in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan in 1907.[1]
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[edit] History
Japan Steel Works was set up with investment from British firms Vickers and Armstrong Whitworth.[1] During World War II, they manufactured what was then the world's largest gun barrel to be fitted on the battleship Yamato. 200 workers in their main plant in Muroran were killed in a 1945 attack.[2]
[edit] Products
Japan Steel Works' industrial processes which are used to purify steel are held to high standards. These include the use of argon gas to eliminate impurities, and the addition of manganese, chromium and nickel to make the steel harder.[2]
Japan Steel Works' services are in great demand owing to its role as the only manufacturer in the world able to manufacture the central part of a large capacity nuclear reactor's pressure vessel in a single piece, which reduces the risk of a coolant leak.[2] There is a possible impediment to production of nuclear power plants due to a backlog at the company's factory, which is located on the island of Hokkaidō. The company can only make four per year of the steel pressure vessel forgings, which contain the nuclear reactor core. It will double its capacity in the next two years, but still will not be able to meet current global demand promptly. Utilities across the world are submitting orders years in advance of any actual need. Other manufacturers are examining various options, including making the component themselves, or finding ways to make a similar item using alternate methods.[2]
Other items manufactured by Japan Steel Works include machines for processed plastics.[3] They also continue to make a limited number of traditional Japanese swords.[2]
[edit] Financials
In fiscal year 2001, Japan Steel Works posted a net loss of ¥1.81 billion on sales of ¥119.70 billion. Their performance improved in 2002, with net profit of ¥100 million on sales of ¥129 billion; however, this was far short of their earlier estimate of ¥600 million net profit on sales of ¥134 billion.[3]
Japan Steel Works Ltd. increased net profit to ¥ 12.6 billion for the nine months to December 31, 2007. Revenue was up to ¥ 159.2 billion. Operating profit increased to ¥ 21.9 billion and ordinary profit rose to ¥ 21.2 billion. Full-year revenue forecast is unchanged at ¥ 218 billion to March 31, 2008. The company maintained a full-year net profit forecast of ¥ 15 billion. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "会社情報 (Company information)", Official website, Japan Steel Works, Ltd., http://www.jsw.co.jp/guide/index.html, retrieved on 2008-03-14
- ^ a b c d e Takemoto, Yoshifumi; Katz, Alan (2008-03-13), "Bloomberg exclusive: Samurai-Sword Maker's Reactor Monopoly May Cool Nuclear Revival", Bloomberg.com, http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aaVMzCTMz3ms&s=polyhoo, retrieved on 2008-03-14
- ^ a b "Japan Steel Works revises downward earnings for year to March.", Japan Weekly Monitor, 2002-03-20, http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25218153_ITM, retrieved on 2008-03-14
- ^ Japan Steel Works Ltd. (5631): Stock Quote & Company Profile - BusinessWeek
[edit] External links
- Company website (English version)
