Company visit: PIM International, Vol.2 No. 2 June 2008, pages 37-39, 1133 words

Author: Nick Williams, PIM International, Shrewsbury, UK

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. (SMM) is one of the giants of Japan’s MIM industry. Nick Williams visited the company’s Tokyo offices earlier this year and discussed industry developments and SMM’s operations with Mr. Kazuo Iijima, Manager, Metalmold Group and Mr. Kunihiko Suzuki, Senior Staff – Technical and Quality Assurance.

Introduction

Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. is part of the larger Sumitomo Group, one of Japan’s oldest companies dating back to the 1590’s. Sumitomo became synonymous with the copper mining and smelting industry in Japan and it was Riemon Soga, one of the founders of the company, who developed the Nanban-buki process which separated silver from copper during smelting nearly 400 years ago. The Sumitomo Group is still largely run according to the 'Founder’s Precepts' as written by Masatomo Sumitomo in the seventeenth century. From the late 1800’s the Sumitomo company diversified into other sectors including banking, warehousing, electric cable production and more.

Production of electrolytic nickel was added to copper smelting in 1939 and in 1952 this particular arm of the Sumitomo group changed its name to Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (SMM). Today SMM boasts a broad pallet of metal related products with divisions focusing on mineral resources, metals, electronic and advanced materials, and housing and construction materials. Total SMM sales for 2007 were reported at ¥966,764 million (over $8 billion) which makes the company one of the major global players in the non-ferrous metals industry. The Electronics and Advanced Materials Division saw sales surge by 21.5% in 2007 to ¥223,580 million following a significant recovery in demand for electronic devices which began in the second half of 2005. This division produces a range of metal powders (nickel, copper, bismuth oxide, rhenium), pastes, thermal spray powders ......

Further sections of this article include:

- Production facilities

- Markets

- Business outlook

Figures and Tables:

Fig. 1 View of the injection moulding facility at Sumitomo Metal Mining

Fig. 2 Batch furnaces at Sumitomo Metal Mining

Fig. 3 Continuous sintering furnace for high volume MIM production

Fig. 4 Low alloy steel power tool parts (Fe-Ni-C, Fe-Cr-C)

Fig. 5 Large low alloy steel power tool casing

Fig. 6 Lock casing for a 'card-key' style lock from 316L stainless steel

Fig. 7 Deflector for ball screw for application in machine tools or automobiles

Fig. 8 316L stainless steel knife cap, with application area highlighted

Fig. 9 Low alloy steel (Fe-Ni-C, Fe-Cr-C) precision gun part