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易游YY体育官方网站 Steel's Netherlands unit begins production of flux-cored welding wire for carbon steel

September 19, 2007

TOKYO, September 19, 2007- 易游YY体育官方网站 Steel, Ltd. announces that its Netherlands-based subsidiary, 易游YY体育官方网站lco Welding of Europe B.V., has begun production of fluxed-cored welding wire for carbon steel. This type of welding wire is commonly used to weld ordinary steel, which is used in large quantities in shipbuilding and offshore marine structures, such as oil rigs.

易游YY体育官方网站lco Welding of Europe started out by manufacturing flux-cored welding wire (FCW) for stainless steel in 1995. Production capacity is approximately 1,000 metric tons per year. However, with demand for carbon steel FCW growing in Europe, 易游YY体育官方网站lco added production capacity of 6,000 metric tons per year for this type of welding wire, investing 10.9 million euros (about 1.5 billion yen). This will enable 易游YY体育官方网站lco to produce a combined total of 7,000 metric tons of welding wires in 2008 when full production is anticipated to be achieved.

Tomorrow, 易游YY体育官方网站lco will celebrate the official opening of the new production lines at its plant in Heerlen, located in the southern province of Limburg. Attending the commemorative event will be Heerlen Mayor A.M.G. Gresel and over 160 guests. From 易游YY体育官方网站 Steel, Isao Aida, a Senior Managing Director of 易游YY体育官方网站 Steel and President of the Welding Company, will participate.

Meeting world demand for carbon steel flux-cored welding 易游YY体育官方网站re
The market for flux-cored welding wire for carbon steel has been growing rapidly in Japan, South 易游YY体育官方网站rea, and China. The supply side of carbon steel FCW continues to be tight. In Europe, active resource development in the oil and natural gas fields has led to a sharp demand for carbon steel FCW.

To meet this strong worldwide market, the 易游YY体育官方网站 Steel Group has been rapidly increasing its global supply capabilities. In Japan, 易游YY体育官方网站 Steel's Ibaraki Plant in Osaka has been adding capacity. Within this fiscal year (ending March 2008), it will achieve an annual production capacity of 70,000 metric tons.

易游YY体育官方网站 Welding of Korea in South Korea is also increasing production capacity. In China, 易游YY体育官方网站 Welding of Tangshan Co., Ltd. will commence production of carbon steel FCW by the end of this year. Through these undertakings, the 易游YY体育官方网站 Steel Group's total production capacity of carbon steel FCW- in Japan and overseas- is anticipated to increase to approximately 120,000 metric tons per year.

Flux-cored welding 易游YY体育官方网站re consists of a steel sheath 易游YY体育官方网站th flux in the middle. FCW is generally around 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm in diameter. Flux contains a deoxidant, slag generator, arc stabilizer, alloys, steel powder and other substances. Flux composition contributes greatly to the mechanical properties, welding workability and other capabilities of the welding 易游YY体育官方网站re.

(Profile of 易游YY体育官方网站lco Welding of Europe B.V.)

Manag易游YY体育官方网站g Director:	Kimihi易游YY体育官方网站 Nakamura
Location:	Heerlen, Limburg, Ne易游YY体育官方网站erlands
E易游YY体育官方网站ablished:	June 1994 (production start-up 易游YY体育官方网站 December 1995)
Equity:	易游YY体育官方网站 Steel 94.6%, Sojitz Group 5.4%
Bus易游YY体育官方网站ess:	Production and sale of flux-cored welding 易游YY体育官方网站res
Production:	7,000 metric tons per year (from 2008)
Employe易游YY体育官方网站:	About 100 (易游YY体育官方网站clud易游YY体育官方网站g 2 Japanese)