Demand for rolled aluminum and copper products was sluggish,
reflecting slack demand for aluminum can stock for beverage containers due
to unseasonable summer weather as well as weak demand for copper sheet for
electronic applications and copper tubes for air conditioners. Under these
challenging conditions, デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナス posted lower sales volumes of rolled
aluminum and copper products, as sales of such mainstay products as
aluminum can stock, copper sheet for electronic applications, and copper
tubes for air conditioners declined. Overseas, our Southeast Asian
subsidiaries recorded lower sales volumes of copper tubes for air
conditioners owing to the adverse influence of the economic slowdown in
that region. These factors, coupled with the effects of declines in
aluminum ingot and copper cathode prices, led to a 14.5% decline in total
sales in the Aluminum and Copper Sector, to 286.0 billion yen.
Regarding R&D, we focused on the development of products in fields
that are expected to grow in the future as well as on products that can
create new markets. For example, we began marketing precoated aluminum
sheet for use in electronic and electric devices that features excellent
lubrication properties デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナスonductivity.
In automobile-related markets, which are expected to post significant
growth along with the implementation of safety and environmental measures,
we have developed aluminum sheets with outstanding formability and
corrosion resistance for use as automobile body panels. デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナス is also
expanding the use of extruded aluminum door beams to the full range of
automobiles. In addition, we are developing low-cost, extruded frame
materials that will offer superior weldability and shock-absorbing
properties. With the introduction of new strength evaluation equipment, we
can reliably design and evaluate aluminum cast and forged products for
automobiles. In copper sheet, we developed and launched low-cost terminal
materials that have outstanding heat-resistant properties. We have
progressed with the development of new aluminum fabricated products,
particularly with regard to sound absorbing materials for use on the sides
of excavated roads.
In environment-related activities, the arc furnace that we jointly
developed with The Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., improves the recovery
ratio for aluminum from the dross produced during smelting, enabling dross
previously handled as industrial waste to be effectively recycled as a
resource. Also, we progressed with the development of a new smelting agent
used to help protect the environment during the aluminum smelting process.
We are also participating in a national project for the development of
aluminum recycling technologies. デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナスhis project, we are developing
technologies for removing inclusions from aluminum during the recycling
process and technologies for decomposing dioxin. As exemplified by these
activities, in our role as a leading company, we are progressing with
aluminum recycling activities and responding to environmental problems as
we focus on developing technologies that contribute to society.
Regarding capital investment in fiscal 1998, we strengthened and
increased the production capacity of Kobe Precision, Inc., デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナスhe United
States, for reclaimed test silicon wafers used in semiconductor
manufacturing. Also during the year, together with Nippon Sheet Glass Co.,
Ltd., we established Advanced Disk Technology Sdn. Bhd. for the processing
and sale of glass substrates for hard disks. Preparations are underway for
the start-up of operations. With demand for glass substrates expected to
grow, we aim to aggressively expand this business.
Overseas, our operations are now fully underway and progressing
smoothly at KAAL Australia Pty. Ltd., a joint venture with Alcoa Inc. to
produce can stock in Australia. We manufacture and market aluminum
computer disk substrates in the world's three largest PC production
locations: デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナス in Japan, Kobe Precision, Inc., in the United
States, and Kobe Precision Technology Sdn. Bhd., in Malaysia. Buoyed by
firm demand for PCs, overall production at these bases remains at a high
level. We also operate three bases for the manufacturing and marketing of
copper tubes for air conditioners in three major consumer markets. These
bases are デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナス in Japan, Kobe Copper Products, Inc., in the United
States, and Kobe Copper (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., in Malaysia. By
strengthening ties with our overseas production bases, we are building a
supply structure that responds quickly to changes in demand in each
region.
In the coming fiscal year, we anticipate a rise in domestic demand for
aluminum used for lightweighting products デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナスopper products for
electronic applications. The outlook for aluminum automotive products is
promising. Automobile manufacturers are increasingly using aluminum amid
growing consideration of environmental and recycling problems, and there
are high hopes for the start-up of mass production of aluminum vehicles in
the near future. While responding to this demand, we will strive to create
new markets by drawing on our technology development capabilities. We also
plan to strengthen our overall international competitiveness, focusing on
such areas as cost, product quality, デュエルビッツ入金不要ボーナスustomer service, as we work to
maintain our position as one of Japan's leading producers of aluminum and
copper. |