Japan Steel Works - Products

Products

Japan Steel Works' industrial processes which are used to purify steel are held to high standards. These include the use of argon gas to eliminate impurities, and the addition of manganese, chromium and nickel to make the steel harder.

Japan Steel Works' services are in great demand owing to its role as one of only four manufacturers worldwide of large single-piece pressure vessels for nuclear reactors at the company's factory, which is located on the island of Hokkaidō. The other manufacturers as of 2010 are two companies in China, and one in Russia. However, Japan Steel Works is the only one that can make cores in a single piece without welds, which reduces risk from radiation leakage. The company has boosted production to 6 units per year from 4 previously of the steel pressure vessel forgings, which contain the nuclear reactor core. It is scheduled to take capacity to 11 by 2013. Due to the production bottleneck, utilities across the world are submitting orders years in advance of any actual need, along with deposits worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Other manufacturers are examining various options, including finding ways to make a similar item using alternate methods, or making the component themselves with welds. However, welds are weak points which can result in reactor leakage.

Other items manufactured by Japan Steel Works include machines for processed plastics. They also continue to make a limited number of traditional Japanese swords. They are also involved in the development of the Type 10 battle tank, Type 99 155 mm self-propelled howitzer and Naval artillery.