The facility, developed with an investment of approximately JPY 300 billion, will strengthen production of advanced thin gauge steel products, including ultra high strength automotive steel.
Nippon Steel has commissioned the new hot rolling line at Nagoya Steel Works. According to the company's announcement on August 6, the investment aims to increase production capacity for high quality thin gauge steel sheets, particularly ultra high strength steel for the automotive sector.
The new line is equipped with what Nippon Steel describes as the "rolling facility with the world's highest load capacity." The company expects the facility to significantly improve its rolling and temperature control capabilities.
Nippon Steel held a ceremony at the Nagoya facility on August 6 to mark the completion of the line. Guests included Miura, Director General of the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Hanada, Mayor of Tokai.
Approximately JPY 300 billion invested
The new hot rolling line has an annual production capacity of approximately 6 million mt. Nippon Steel invested approximately JPY 300 billion, equivalent to around USD 1.9 billion, in the project.
The company also plans to shut down its existing hot rolling line during fiscal 2026.
Nippon Steel stated that the investment will fundamentally strengthen its production system for high quality thin gauge steel products, including ultra high strength steel.
The company defines ultra high strength steel sheet as steel products with a tensile strength of 1.0 gigapascal or higher.
Demand for high strength steel is increasing in the automotive sector
According to Nippon Steel, tighter environmental regulations, higher crash safety standards and automakers' shift toward lighter and stronger vehicle bodies will increase demand for high performance steel products.
The growing adoption of electric vehicles is also expected to support this trend. Battery weight and range requirements are encouraging automakers to use materials that are lighter while offering higher strength.
The company also stated that ultra high strength steel can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of vehicles.
Nagoya Steel Works is Nippon Steel's main production facility for automotive steel sheets and serves as one of the company's key centers leading its global operations in this segment.
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