OREANDA-NEWS. International Crankshaft, Inc. (ICI), a subsidiary of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) which forges steel crankshafts for cars and light trucks in the United States, started commercial operation of its fourth forging line on October 30, 2015, to meet robust demand for automobiles in the U.S. market. On October 30, 2015, an opening ceremony was held with attendance by Georgetown Mayor Tom Prather, Scott County Executive Judge John Lusby, and people who have built the line. Mr. Machi Nakata, Head of Railway, Automotive & Machinery Parts Unit of NSSMC also attended the ceremony.

North America's car sales are expected to increase by one million units or more by 2018. There is a shift from use of cast crankshaft to forged ones in keeping with the ongoing increase in popularity of smaller, higher-fuel-efficiency cars.  

ICI had operated at full capacity of its three forging lines to meet strong demand for crankshafts, which has been in the U.S. for over 20 years. In addition to automotive market growth in North America, a shift from imports to local production of finished cars and engines, and a switch from cast crankshafts to forged crankshafts are reasons for expecting high growth.

Responding to requests from customers for increases in production, in 2013 ICI decided to install its fourth forging line. After the start of commercial operation of the No. 4 line, ICI's overall annual capacity will expand to four million pieces. ICI's capacity will also be equal to that of NSSMC's Osaka Steel Works in Japan. ICI will continue to fill in demand for crankshafts in the growing U.S. market.