Sumitomo Metal invests to increase capacity

SteelOrbis Shanghai Japanese steelmaker Sumitomo Metal has decided to invest Yen 10 billion ($84 million) to increase thick plate and large-size steel pipe production capacity at its Kashima plant in Japan - as part of its plans to become the biggest large-size welded pipe and tube supplier worldwide. This project, which includes improvements to the refining capability of thick plate rolling machinery, in addition to the installation of an on-line cooling facility for large-size steel pipe, is planned to be finished by 2010. By that time, the plant will be in a position to produce X100 above super-high tensile line pipe to meet the long distance transportation requirements of natural gas.