The Ikuno tin smelter has started its operation in 1913, followed by tin refinery in 1916. Originally, the reverberatory furnace had been used for smelting, but later it was replaced by the present electric furnace in order to improve productivity and increase tin recovery. The refinery was relocated from Ikuno to Osaka in 1920, and then again relocated to Naoshima in 1960.The present refinery in Ikuno has started operation in 1991. After Akenobe mine was closed in 1987 due to low tin price and its poor mining condition, domestic secondary materials from the market has been purchased and treated. At present, Ikuno plant is the only producer of electro-refining tin in Japan and 65t/month of electric-tin has been produced.
