There were no injuries or casualties among Kobe Steel’s employees in the March 11 earthquake.
In the neighbouring Kanto region, which was also affected by the disaster, Kobe Steel has two production facilities. The Moka Plant makes aluminium flat products in Moka, Tochigi Prefecture. Fujisawa Industrial Operations manufactures welding consumables and other products in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The earthquake affected these two facilities as follows:
Moka Plant
The Moka Plant has a hot-rolling capacity of 43000t/month and a cold-rolling capacity of 34000t/month of aluminium strip.
Immediately after the earthquake struck, the Moka Plant suspended production. Inspections were completed on 17 March and partial production will resume on 18th with full output expected by 22 March - but dependant on availability of electricity.
Fujisawa Industrial Operations
Fujisawa Industrial Operations also suspended production when the earthquake hit on Friday. As inspection of the equipment found no problems, production was restarted on 14 March.
Kobe Steel, Ltd extends its sincere sympathy and deep condolences to the people caught in the disastrous Tohoku Pacific earthquake, which hit north-eastern Japan. Kobe Steel also hopes for an early recovery of the region.
