The Fukui Works, one of our principal production facilities, has a world-class large-scale hot-rolling line 400 meters in length and 4.3 meters. This line uses AGC (automatic gauge control) to control the thickness of the sheet automatically for high-quality rolled product. That product is used to make the very broad thick aluminum sheet of even thickness used to build LNG tankers and in aerospace applications, among others.

The quality of rolled aluminum products is determined by the degree to which impurities can be removed during the melting process to make high-quality slab (ingots for rolling). We have installed the latest large top-charge melting furnace at the Fukui Works, which produces the industry’s leading product. This line is one of the largest in Japan and is capable of producing slabs up to 2.3 m wide and 10 m long, weighing 32 tons.

This six-stage cold-rolling machine in the Fukui Works is capable of producing quality ultra-wide sheets measuring 2,600 mm. It boasts high-speed and high-productivity, and has enhanced precision controls.

After aluminum sheet has been rolled and strengthened through quenching, it is placed in a stretcher for stretching and straightening. Generating up to 5,600 tons of tensile force, the Fukui Works' stretcher is Japan's largest, and provides true quality.

We have Japan's largest forge press at 15,000 tons at our forging and casting works. This provides us with Japan’s top production structure for meeting large-scale forged aluminum product needs, such as for airplane engine parts and parts for LCD and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.