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Technology

Technology

We make effectively use of our component evaluation and testing facility and hydroforming experiment facility to fully support the component design and development needs of our customers.

Technology Development Policy

Technology Development Ahead of the Times & Technology and Product Development that Meets Customer Needs

Weight Reducing Technology
  • Hydroforming technology
  • Technology to hollow out (create pipe) from round bar
  • Technology to make high strength steel pipe
Environmentally Friendly Technology
  • Development of heat-resistant material for stainless steel pipes for automotive exhaust systems
Cost Reducing Technology
  • Hydroforming technology

Main Examples of New Technology Development

Three-dimensional Hot Bending and Direct Quench (3DQ)

The Nippon Steel Group developed Three-dimensional Hot Bending and Direct Quench (3DQ) technology to meet the automotive needs of lighter vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions and greater safety.
It is the world’s first process that can manufacture ultra high-strength automotive parts with three-dimensional shapes in a single operation using steel tubes of various shapes as the raw material. This technology has made it possible to get the ultimate best out of metal.
We have installed a prototype machine at our Amagasaki Works and are carrying out development. The equipment can manufacture actual automotive parts and can handle small lots of prototypes.

High Ductility Mill

We developed a mill that minimizes as much as possible processing strain during pipe forming, in order to meet requests for pipes with better workability from customers who process pipes.
This new mill increases pipes’ elongation value by around 10%, greatly improving workability.

Hydroforming

Hydroforming has been gaining attention recently as a new processing technique for making lighter automobiles and reducing costs. We were an early adopter of an experimental hydroforming unit, which we set up at Nippon Steel Corporation to conduct R&D, in order to develop steel tubes that are suited to hydroforming.
The equipment can manufacture actual parts, and we can collaborate with customers in parts development.

Development of Lightweight Tubing

Weight reduction has become a top priority issue to improve automotive fuel economy in line with global environmental measures.
In response, we have applied pipes to parts that used to be made from round bar (by hollowing them out) and developed high-tensile steel tubes.

Component Evaluation and Testing Facility

We can accommodate the evaluation of actual parts made with pipes. Our customers make effective use of the test results and data gathered here in their development of parts. (The evaluation facility is located at Nippon Steel Technology Co., Ltd.) Nippon Steel Pipe is the only steel pipe manufacturer capable of conducting various tests extending to the level of parts.