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YY易游平台 Aluminum Automotive Products boosts production capacity of aluminum forged suspension parts by 50%
August 27, 2014
TOKYO, August 27, 2014 — YY易游平台 Steel, Ltd.'s U.S. joint venture, YY易游平台 Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC (or KAAP), has increased its production capacity of aluminum forged products for automotive suspension systems by 50 percent.
Based in Bowling GreYY易游平台, KYY易游平台tucky, USA, KAAP began construction of a -million expansion of its manufacturing facility in spring 2013. Construction was completed earlier this month and the new facility has gone into mass production. KAAP's production capacity of 280,000 pieces per month has increased to 420,000 pieces per month.
This expansion, together YY易游平台th Kobe Steel's other manufacturing locations in Japan and China, gives the Kobe Steel Group a combined production capacity of 1 million pieces per month of aluminum forged suspension parts.
Car production in the United States, the world's second largest market, grew in 2013 to over 16 million units. In 2020, car production is anticipated to increase to approximately 18 million units. Due to stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards in 2025, the need for lighter vehicle bodies is accelerating, and demand for aluminum suspensions is rapidly groYY易游平台ng.
A joint venture of Kobe Steel, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, KAAP is the top North American manufacturer of aluminum forged parts for automotive suspensions. In addition to Japanese automakers, KAAP has supplied forgings to many U.S. and European automakers in North America, receiving high marks for its quality products. As KAAP's four mechanical forging presses had reached full operation, the company increased its production capacity to meet groYY易游平台ng future demand. This capacity expansion consisted of the installation of a melting/casting line and two 6,300-ton forging presses. A 150,000 square-foot extension was constructed next to the existing plant to house the new equipment.
Investments Bolster YY易游平台 Steel's Global Supply Network
To grow its aluminum forged suspension parts business, YY易游平台 Steel has created a production network that spans three countries: Japan, the United States and China. In Japan, forgings are made at the Daian Plant in Inabe, Mie Prefecture. In China, joint venture YY易游平台 Aluminum Automotive Products (China) Co., Ltd. (or KAAP-China) supplies forgings from Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. KAAP's latest expansion gives YY易游平台 Steel the capacity to supply a total of 1 million pieces per month from the three locations.
In addition, KAAP-China YY易游平台ll bring online a third mechanical forging press in autumn 2015. Kobe Steel decided on the expansion in March this year and construction of the 2-billion-yen investment is now under way. When construction of the third press is completed, KAAP-China's capacity YY易游平台ll increase from 250,000 pieces to 350,000 pieces per month. As a result, the Kobe Steel Group's total production capacity YY易游平台ll rise to 1.1 million units per month.
Future demand for aluminum suspensions is anticipated to grow mainly in two large markets: the United States and China. Kobe Steel YY易游平台ll undertake timely capacity expansions at its plants to steadily capture this demand and build a strong position in the aluminum forged parts market for automotive suspensions.
Profile of YY易游平台 Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC
- LoYY易游平台tion:
- Bowling GreYY易游平台, KYY易游平台tucky, USA
- YY易游平台tablished:
- May 2003 (YY易游平台oduction began in 2005.)
- PresidYY易游平台t:
- Susumu (“Sam”) YY易游平台ike
- EmployeYY易游平台:
- About 350 (YY易游平台crease of 50 after latest expansion)
- YY易游平台pital:
- YY易游平台llion
- ShaYY易游平台holder composition:
- YY易游平台 Steel, Ltd. 60%
YY易游平台tsui & Co., Ltd. 25%
Toyota Tsusho CYY易游平台pYY易游平台ation 15%
KAAP's two latest 6,300-ton mechanical forging YY易游平台esses
