OREANDA-NEWS. December 27, 2011. Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. (Sumitomo Metals), has signed a merger agreement with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Sumitomo Metals (Kokura), Ltd., and Sumitomo Metals (Naoetsu), Ltd. to start the new operation on January 1, 2012, with Sumitomo Metals continuing as the surviving company.

Sumitomo Metals (Kokura), a specialized manufacturer of special steel bars and wire rods, will become the Bar and Wire Rod Company, with Yoshimitsu Kato being its President, while the business of Sumitomo Metals (Naoetsu), production of various products of stainless steel and titanium, will be included in the Stainless Steel and Titanium Division. Yasuyuki Tozaki will become the Division’s General Manager.

Through the merger, the organization will be more unified and management efficiency will be improved.