Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation Achieves a Total of Two Million Tons of Tinplate (for Cans) Shipment to Dole.

Jun. 13, 2016

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation

Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation Achieves
a Total of Two Million Tons of Tinplate (for Cans) Shipment to Dole.

In May 2016, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) achieved a total of two million tons of tinplate (for cans) shipment to Dole Packaged Foods (Dole), which is the world’s largest manufacturer of canned pineapple. Commemorating the achievement, NSSMC held a great ceremony on June 9 on Mindanao Island in the Philippines, which is the place of business development for Dole.
NSSMC has supplied tinplate to Dole, with a share of 100%, for over 50 years since it started business with Dole in 1962. Dole and NSSMC have shared the philosophy of growing together as “partners” and have established a strong relationship, based on “strong trust,” beyond the mere relationship between a buyer and a seller.
Dole has developed with its business model, in which Dole fills pineapples grown in its own farms in its in-house manufactured cans. NSSMC has made efforts to contribute to the enhancement of Dole’s brand value by utilizing NSSMC’s comprehensive strength including “quality,” “cost,” “technological development,” and “stable delivery.” Our specific efforts are as follows: (1) with regard to quality, NSSMC has appropriately responded to Dole’s high-level quality requirement for tinplate, utilizing NSSMC’s high corrosion resistance technology, because Dole uses uncoated tinplate for pineapple cans and the content has a direct contact with tinplate; (2) regarding cost, NSSMC has contributed to the realization of weight reduction in many can sizes, in response to Dole’s needs, by making full use of structural analysis technology and proposing tinplate which are optimal to Dole’s standards; (3) Concerning technological development, NSSMC has involved in Dole’s development of easy open ends (can lid) and has contributed to the practical application of the development; and (4) in terms of stable delivery, NSSMC has ensured thorough delivery control and stably supplied tinplate in response to Dole’s can production plan that changes according to pineapple yields.
NSSMC will continue to contribute to Dole’s development, utilizing advanced technology, in order to achieve a total of three million tons shipment and 100-year business relationship.

1. About ceremony:

2. -Date:	June 9, 2016
   -Venue:	Can factory of Dole Philippines Inc. on Mindanao Island, Philippines
   -Participants:
   NSSMC:	Mr. Shinichi Nakamura, Managing Executive Officer, Head of Flat Products Unit, Mr. Ayumu Hatori, General Manager, Head of Tin Mill Products Div.,and others.
   Dole:	Mr. Shawn Warren (President, Dole Packaged Foods Asia Division), Mr. Randolph I. Fleming (Vice President and Managing Director, Dole Philippines Inc.), and others. A total of approx. 300 participants including the above.
   -Activity:	Presentation of a letter of appreciation (signed by Kosei Shindo, Representative Director and President, NSSMC) to Dole, and a visit to Dole’s can factory
   -Messages from Dole and NSSMC:

   Dole/ Mr. Shawn Warren
   	“James Dole, founder of Dole Food Company, emphasized ‘quality’ in his corporate philosophy. NSSMC and Dole have pursued the best quality and grown their businesses for over 50 years. The two companies also share the philosophy of coexisting with communities.”
   NSSMC / Shinichi Nakamura, Managing Executive Officer, Head of Flat Products Unit
   	“NSSMC intends to continuously make company-wide efforts to produce and stably supply high-quality products in response to Dole’s trust.”
   NSSMC / Ayumu Hatori, General Manager, Head of Tin Mill Products Div.
   	“NSSMC will continuously try to differentiate its metal packaging materials made of tinplate, while packaging materials are becoming more diverse, further develop its ‘QCDD’ (quality, cost competitiveness, delivery, and development of advanced technology), and maximize its efforts as the company which is continuously selected by world-leading Dole.”

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