Mar 21 2002
It was announced today that NKK Steel and Kawasaki Steel have been involved with talks with German manufacturer ThyssenKtrupp Steel AG regarding automotive steel. Discussions commenced in April of 2001, between NKK Steel and ThyssenKrupp, with Kawasaki Steel becoming part of the equation after NKK Steel and Kawasaki Steel merged their operations late last year. However, at this stage no agreement has been reached.
The deal is believed to centre around steel panels for the automotive industry with ThyssenKrupp to obtain technology from the Japanese manufacturers so they can manufacture light, high strength steel panels to supply Japanese auto manufacturers in Europe. The Japanese will also supply hot-rolled steel plates to ThyssenKrupp’s joint venture stainless steel operation in China, which makes construction materials and tableware. At the same time the Japanese will acquire technology from the Germans to produce light weight panels by welding sheets of different thickness’ and corrosion resistant products.