福山製鉄所の建設と操業について

抄録

Construction of a giant iron works was planned by Nippon Kokan with a crude steel production of ten million tons as the final target, to cope with increasing competition in domestic and foreign marketsfor the future development of the steel industry of Japan. Another reason of this decision was the fact that the crude steel production at the three iron works in Tokyo-Yokohama area was limited to five million tons because of the local restrictions.
Company policy for this construction was directed toward the adoption of largest and most highly automated facilities and a layout permitting the most rational transportation. An area of 7.26million m² was selected from among many possible sites of construction within Japan at the coast of Fukuyama in compliance with this policy. Reclamation was launched in January 1962. The first period construction was completed in summer 1966 with the production of sheets as objective. The crude steel production has reached in June 1967 a level of two million tons. The second period construction isalready underway, and a production system comprising hot and cold rolled sheets and wide plates corresponding to a crude steel production of four million tons will be established at the beginning of 1968.