Kobe Steel to Ink Technical Linkup Agreement with Italy's Lucchini

摘要

Kobe Steel, Ltd. has agreed to conclude a comprehensive technical collaboration contract with Italy's Lucchini Group, the largest special steel wire and bar products in Europe, covering the said products for automotive applications. Through earlier contacts, Kobe transferred to Ascometal in the Lucchini Group base in Paris its technology to manufacture high-strength spring steel for automotive suspensions (UHS 1900), which is widely sought in the European market. Ascometal manufactured and shipped samples to parts makers and its products were rated well in evaluation tests. The French concern plans to start supplies to European transplants of Japanese automakers. Kobe Steel already has a technical cooperation pact with RTI, a leading special steel wire and bar products in the U.S. With the announced European link, Kobe will complete a three-pole supply network to service automakers in these countries that are in process of promoting local procurement.