Sapa Signs Technology Agreement with Japanese Kobe Steel

Sapa AB of Sweden and Kobe Steel Ltd. of Japan have signed an agreement under which Kobe Steel will provide Sapa with production technology for aluminum extrusions to be used in Sapa's more than 50 extrusion plants in Europe, North America and Asia, according to information from Sapa.

The agreement covers the full range of processes ranging from melting and casting to extrusion, including Kobe Steel's proprietary aluminum alloys.

Kobe Steel currently produces aluminum extrusions at its Chofu Works plant in Shimonoseki in western Japan. Major products include bumper material for automobiles, aluminum tubes for OPC (organic photo conductor), drums used in printers and other value-added products.

"This is a very positive solution for both companies," says Svein Tore Holsether, president and CEO of Sapa. "Kobe ensures high-quality solutions for its customers outside of Japan, and Sapa gets access to complimentary technology for our advanced profiles extrusions operations."

Through the agreement Kobe Steel officials say they will be able to meet the global procurement needs of its customers.

"As user industries have increasingly been moving their operations overseas in recent years, building a network that can supply our customers with high-quality products outside Japan has become an important issue," says Yoriyuki Shibata of Kobe Steel Aluminium Extruded Products.