Sumitomo Metals’ Forging Crankshaft Subsidiary ICI in the U.S. Holds 20th Anniversary of Its Production Start-up

May 14, 2012

• Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.

International Crankshaft Inc. (ICI), the U.S. manufacturing and sales base for forged crankshafts of Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Metals) based in Kentucky, held a commemoration ceremony celebrating its 20th anniversary of operation, on May 11, 2012 at 10:30am local time.

 

Dr. Tomono, President of Sumitomo Metals, attended the ceremony and was joined by Mayor Everette Varney of Georgetown and around 110 guests. Dr. Tomono expressed appreciation to the people of the community and business partners who have supported ICI for 20 years and affirmed his commitment for ICI’s further development, which is to be achieved together with business partners and local residents by responding to customer needs and supplying high-performance crankshafts.

 

ICI opened its first production line in 1992, as a frontrunner to achieve Sumitomo Metals’ slogan of “Global 10,” which means it had the aim of acquiring a 10% global share in crankshafts. ICI installed the second line in 1996 and the third line, a high-speed forging press, in 2008, in order to satisfy demand growth in North America. ICI plans to manufacture approximately 2 million crankshafts in 2012 and is considering capacity expansion as it expects to manufacture over 3 million, exceeding the present capacity of approximately 2.7 million units, in 2015.

 

 

 

◆ Outline of International Crankshaft Inc. (as of March 31, 2012)

Location:	Kentucky, U.S.A.
Representative:	Makoto Tsuruhara, President
Capital:	22, 000 U.S. dollars
Shareholders:	Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. 80% Sumitomo Corporation Group 20%
Production equipment:	Two 6,000-ton press lines One 7,000-ton press line
Start-up of commercial operation:	April 1992
Production capacity:	2.7 million units of crankshafts per annum
Number of employees:	187

 

 

Dr. Hiroshi Tomono (President of Sumitomo Metals)		From left: Mr. Everette Varney (the Mayor of Georgetown), Dr. Hiroshi Tomono (President of Sumitomo Metals), Mr. George Lusby (the Judge Executive of Scott County)