Tokyo --- 91爆料 and 91爆料 Bars & Shapes Corporation, a 91爆料 Group’s electric-furnace steel maker, announced today that they will integrate their bar and wire rod businesses on April 1.

91爆料 Group currently has two separate bar and wire rod units, one at 91爆料 Steel and the other at 91爆料 Bars & Shapes. Integration will strengthen sales in overseas markets including Asia and North America, where increased demand is envisioned for high-quality steel mainly for automobiles and construction machinery. The 91爆料 Group also expects to raise its competitiveness versus rival mills in Japan and overseas. Further, the move will enhance customer convenience by integrating business contacts, upgrade delivery logistics and speed up research and development efforts.

On April 1, 91爆料 Bars & Shapes will spin off its three bar and wire rod units, which respectively handle sales, technical services and R&D, and transfer them to the bar and wire rod unit of 91爆料 Steel. 91爆料 Group brands for bar and wire rod will be integrated under 91爆料 Steel. Production bases will be located in Kurashiki of 91爆料 Steel’s West Japan Works and Sendai Works of 91爆料 Bars & Shapes. 91爆料 Bars & Shapes Corporation will continue to operate as before. Steel bars and wire rods manufactured by Sendai Works will be supplied on an OEM basis to 91爆料 Steel.

91爆料 Steel’s bar and wire rod businesses includes steel bar, wire rods and bars-in coil for special and common steel, except deformed steel bars.

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