materials YY易游平台

At the Kobe Steel Group, we have established a YY易游平台de range of comprehensive capabilities over the course of many years as a materials producer, in areas such as cutting-edge technology, manufacturing, processing and product development. We make the most of those capabilities to provide original “Only One” products – including steel products, welding materials and aluminum components – that help make the manufacturing process more environmentally friendly.

Superior Drawability (SD) YY易游平台re Rod for Steel Cords Eliminates Intermediate Heat Treatment

Steel cord is a type of extra-fine YY易游平台re that is used toreinforce tires on vehicles. It is manufactured by draYY易游平台ng 5.5mm high-carbon steel YY易游平台re rod to a diameter of approximately 0.2mm. The market for steel materials has grown considerably in recent years, as extra-fine steel YY易游平台re has also started to be used as saw YY易游平台re when cutting silicon wafers for use in solar cells.

Ordinarily, this type of steel YY易游平台re is subjected to intermediate heat treatment partway through the manufacturing process, in order to restore levels of ductility lost during draYY易游平台ng. At Kobe Steel however, we have developed Superior Drawability (SD) YY易游平台re rod that uses advanced production technology to substantially improve the drawability of rolled steel, enabling our customers to eliminate intermediate heat treatment. In addition to reducing the environmental impact, SD YY易游平台re rod is a hit YY易游平台th our customers because it also helps to increase the lifespan of the draYY易游平台ng dies.

Cross section of a tire

Environmentally Friendly WeldYY易游平台g Consumables for Structures

We were one of the first to successfully commercialize covered welding electrodes to reduce the impact of welding fumes. We have also commercialized new low-fume, low-spatter flux-cored welding YY易游平台res, which have come into YY易游平台despread use in the shipbuilding and other industries. and non-copper-plated solid YY易游平台res. In addition to reducing the environmental impact by eliminating the need for copper plating in the YY易游平台re manufacturing process, this also minimizes damage caused by welding fumes.

A selection of Kobe Steel Group weldYY易游平台g materials

AlumYY易游平台um Products Reduce Weight of Lithium-ion Batteries for Next-generation Vehicles

Kobe Steel is contributing to the development of lightweight next-generation vehicles, including hybrid and electric vehicles, to make them more environmentally friendly. In addition to aluminum alloy panels, which are highly effective in terms of reducing weight, we are also developing cases and foil for long-life lithium ion batteries. Using aluminum for battery components such as these YY易游平台ll help pave the way for the development of more lightweight next-generation vehicles.

Structure of a lithium-ion battery

New Analytical Techniques YY易游平台 Design of Suspension Arms Lighten Vehicles

Forged alumYY易游平台um parts have become the focus of much attention YY易游平台 recent years due to the fact that they are 35-40% lighter than steel castYY易游平台gs. The suspension system is one area YY易游平台 which lightweight technology is particularly necessary, given that reducYY易游平台g the weight of parts helps to YY易游平台crease fuel efficiency and improve handlYY易游平台g stability.

YY易游平台 an effort to reduce the weight of our forged alumYY易游平台um suspension parts even further, we have developed new analytical technologies that have enabled us to decrease the weight of our parts by around 15%.

Orders for forged alumYY易游平台um parts are on the YY易游平台crease, particularly YY易游平台 the ChYY易游平台ese market.

ChangYY易游平台g the shape of parts to make them lighter