OREANDA-NEWS. Dongkuk Steel announced that it formed a comprehensive technology cooperation agreement with Japan's JFE Steel. Under the terms of the agreement, Dongkuk Steel will introduce the technology that produces thick plates with different thickness through a single process, first in Korea.

Thick plate is a steel product used in the areas of shipbuilding and plant structure. JFE Steel's slab material design system and operation know-how will also be handed down to Dongkuk Steel.

Slab can be transformed into a variety of products after molten metal is stiffened in a rectangular form and then goes through the rolling process.

A Dongkuk Steel official said, "We expect this technology tie-up to clear the way for us to expand our presence in the high-end thick plate market and to improve cost competitiveness by more than 10 percent."