Kobe Steel Ltd. has completed construction of a 10,000-metric-ton forging press line at its Takasago Works in Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan. In addition to the new press, a manipulator, heating furnace, heat-treatment furnace, crane and other equipment were installed. Construction of the press, which strengthens the competitiveness of the company's Steel Casting and Forging Division, began in April 2008. The new press, which was designed to produce large and long steel forgings at high speeds and with high precision, has the capability to manufacture nearly all varieties of large forged products for ships.

With the completion of the new press, Kobe Steel currently has a total of three free-forging presses. Forged products for ships will be manufactured mainly by the new press and the existing 4,000-metric-ton press. Ultra-large forgings that require higher forging capacity will be made by the 13,000-metric-ton press. The three presses enable Kobe Steel to achieve an optimum production system that can make forged products of numerous sizes. The new press is the company’s biggest capital investment since the 13,000-metric-ton press was installed in 1975.