Sumitomo restarts BF No. 3 at Kashima Steelworks

On March 20, Japanese steelmaker Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd (Sumitomo Metals) announced that its subsidiary Kashima Steelworks has restarted its blast furnace (BF) No. 3  (of 5,370 cubic meters internal volume), the operation of which was suspended when Japan was hit by a massive earthquake on March 11.
 
Kashima Steelworks' second BF suspended due to the earthquake, i.e.,  its BF No. 1 (of 5,370 cubic meters internal volume), is due to be restarted within several days. The plant normally operates three BFs with an annual crude steel production capacity of 500,000 mt.
 
"Kashima Steelworks is focusing on restarting facilities that produce products that will be used to rebuild the communities in the earthquake-stricken areas of Japan," reads the company statement. Thus, on March 17 it restarted its welded spiral tube mill, on March 18 it put its lightweight welded H-beam mill back into operation, and on March 19 it recommissioned its large welded pipe mill.
 
Currently, Kashima Steelworks is carrying out checks and repairs at its plate mill and steel sheet mills. These mills have restarted some of their equipment for secondary processes, so they are able to finish work-in-process and ship products.
 
The total shipped tonnage (by ships and trucks) of lightweight welded H-beams, piping piles, gas pipes, steel plates, steel sheets and other products have exceeded 15,000 mt in the days following the earthquake.