Japanese steelmaker Kobe Steel, Ltd. (Kobe Steel) announced that it has developed two high performance titanium sheets, namely pre-coated titanium sheet and high heat transfer titanium sheet, to be used in plate heat exchangers. Kobe Steel plans to start marketing these new products as of October.
Kobe Steel will supply the new sheet products to the manufacturers of plate heat exchangers for use in ships and factories.
According to company statement, total shipments in Japan of titanium mill products amounted to 15,610 mt in fiscal 2010, ended March 2011. About 75 percent of the sheet for plate heat exchangers is exported to overseas manufacturers.
Kobe Steel stated that approximately 70 percent to 80 percent of the world's titanium sheet for plate heat exchangers is produced in Japan and anticipates that demand will continue to grow for titanium plate heat exchangers