May 10, 2022
Nippon Steel Corporation
Nippon Steel Corporation has decided to establish a new next-generation hot strip mill
at the Nagoya Works.
In the automotive industry, demand for high-performance materials is expected to increase further in
response to needs for more lightweight and stronger vehicle bodies, as global environmental regulations
and collision safety standards are being tightened and social needs to achieve carbon neutrality are
increasing. In the case of electric vehicles and other electric-powered vehicles, which are becoming ever
more popular, needs for more lightweight and stronger vehicle bodies are expected to increase due to the
issues of mileage and battery weight.
In response to these needs, Nippon Steel will fundamentally strengthen the production system for
high-grade steel sheets, such as ultra-high-tensile strength steel sheets*, which can also be effective in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire automobile life cycle from material production
through driving.
Specifically, as the culmination of many years of research by Nippon Steel R&D Laboratories, which has
thoroughly pursued the potential of steel materials, a next-generation hot strip mill, equipped with the
world’s largest roll force stands and featuring dramatically improved rolling and temperature
control, will be constructed at the Nagoya Works, the core of automotive steel sheet production. The
existing hot strip mill will be shut down after the new mill starts operation.
Through the provision of superior steel materials that outperform other materials by highly achieving
lower body weight, improved collision safety, and a high level of greenhouse gas emission reduction, as
well as solution proposals such as the next-generation steel car concept NSafeTM-AutoConcept,
Nippon Steel is committed to contributing to customers and to realizing a carbon-neutral society.
* Ultra-high-tensile strength steel sheets: Steel sheets with a tensile strength of 1.0 GPa or
higher
[Outline of the new hot strip mill]
