OREANDA-NEWS. Having completely restored operations at its superconducting plant in Nikko Works (Nikko-shi, Tochigi Prefecture), Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. has recently starting operating the new plant.

Furukawa Electric apologizes to its customers for the inconvenience. Going forward, Furukawa Electric plans to reach stable operation quickly as it continues to grow as a “manufacturer that meets its responsibilities as a partner.”

Background

A portion of the plant ceiling at Furukawa Electric Nikko Works had collapsed due to record snowfall in Nikko-shi, Tochigi Prefecture during February 2014, halting the integrated production of superconducting products. Lightly damaged facilities were repaired, but some facilities required replacement and Furukawa Electric worked hard to resume integrated production as quickly as possible.

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Outside view of the new plant
Outside view of the new plant

Beginning at the end of May, test runs were conducted and adjustments were made for superconducting manufacturing equipment that had showed progress during repairs. Integrated production for the same products resumed on June 22.

In addition to NbTi wire for medical devices and Nb3Sn wire for analysis equipment, Furukawa Electric will utilize the strength of its project products (such as wire for international thermonuclear experimental reactors [ITER]) and original products (such as R&W [react-and-wind] Nb3Sn wire), and will make use of hydroelectric power generation to resume integrated production that is environmentally-responsible.

Ceremony praying for safety at the new plant
Ceremony praying for safety at the new plant

With the operation of the new superconducting plant, the snow damage at the Furukawa Electric Nikko Works has now been repaired. Furukawa Electric will continue to carry on the DNA of Ichibe Furukawa, cherish the cause of “making the world brighter,” and contribute in a wide variety of fields by resuming the same production capability as before the disaster.

About Furukawa Electric Group

Furukawa Electric (TSE; 5801, ISIN; JP3827200001) Group started business in 1884, when its copper-smelting facility and wire manufacturing factory was established. Since then Furukawa Electric has become pioneers in the latest technologies by addressing diverse technological issues. Furukawa Electric has released products in a number of areas, including telecommunications, electronics, automobiles, and construction, with the three types of materials it works with at their core, namely, optics, plastics, and metals. Many of these products have attained the top global market share, and all of its products have contributed to society in numerous business areas. Furukawa Electric reported consolidated revenues of JPY 867.8 billion (approximately USD 8.2B) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.