Featured Story – Kobelco become Maruichi; commitment to quality remains unchanged

On June 1, Kobelco Steel Tube Co., Ltd. changed its name to Maruichi Stainless Tube Co., Ltd. The company continues to provide a stable supply of high-quality seamless stainless pipes and tubes.

It also produces high-growth products such as semiconductor bright annealed pipes and precision bright annealed tubes for direct injection automotive engines.

Stainless Steel World spoke to President and Representative Director Mr. Takashi Onishi about the transition.

President Oonishi

President and Representative Director Mr. Takashi Onishi

Hot extrusion

The company has produced seamless stainless steel pipes and tubes using the hot extrusion process for over 60 years.

Maruichi Stainless Tube

The decision to change the company name to Maruichi Stainless Tube was undertaken to strengthen the global production and sales network of the Group, while enhancing collaboration in manufacturing technology and further cultivating growth opportunities.

“The new corporate name clearly identifies our affiliation with the Maruichi Steel Tube Group and our continued commitment to manufacturing seamless stainless steel pipes and tubes within the Group,” explains Mr. Onishi. “Our company has produced seamless stainless steel pipes and tubes fabricated through the hot extrusion process for over 60 years.

With the support of our domestic and On June 1, Kobelco Steel Tube Co., Ltd. changed its name to Maruichi Stainless Tube Co., Ltd. The company continues to provide a stable supply of high-quality seamless stainless
pipes and tubes. It also produces high-growth products such as semiconductor bright annealed pipes and precision bright annealed tubes for direct injection automotive engines.

Stainless Steel World spoke to President and Representative Director Mr. Takashi Onishi about the transition. international customers, we have
continuously provided new and highquality products, evolving to meet the
needs of each era.”

Structural changes and optimization

Mr. Onishi explained that Maruichi’s Shimonoseki plant produces 900 tons of stainless-steel tubing and 155,000 to 160,000 pieces of precision tubing per month. “Our company handles relatively niche products in the market,
and that enables us to sell them as high-quality, value-added products. We expanded our facilities two years ago. Our upper production capacity limit is 178,000 pieces, but for the second half of our 2020 fiscal year we’re expecting to produce around 170,000 pieces, so we’re proceeding with a rearrangement of personnel. With demand for stainless-steel tubing being in a slump, we are switching our spare personnel to BA tubing production and working hard to guarantee production capacity.” Large-diameter production is continuing from for the company’s 8 to 10-inch diameter range.

Branded pipes

The new name Maruichi Stainless Tube will strengthen the company’s global production and sales network, enhance collaboration in manufacturing technology, and cultivate growth opportunities.

Facts & Figures

Name: Maruichi Stainless Tube Co., Ltd
Founded: 1959 (as a factory of Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
On April 2020, all shares were transferred from Kobe
Steel, Ltd. to Maruichi Steel Tube Ltd.
Equity capital: JPY 4,250,000,000, Employees: 370
URL: www.mstube.co.jp/english

Summing Up

Synergy between Maruichi Stainless & Maruichi Steel Maruichi Stainless Tube works very closely with its ‘sister’ company, Maruichi Steel Tube and is keen to develop this relationship further.

“We have great synergy as both are steel pipe makers, even though there is a difference of welded steel pipes versus seamless steel pipes,” explains
Mr. Onishi. “While our products and main business areas do not overlap, the automotive market is our common denominator. For example, at our overseas locations, there is the potential to supply both Maruichi Steel Tube and Maruichi Stainless Tube products. We will contribute to the
increasing the connectivity of the group management with products in certain sectors; for example, Maruichi Steel Tube had until now not been active in the semiconductor market.”

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FEATURED STORY BY BRITTANI SCHROEDER

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