Kobe Steel cuts crankshaft production

Kobe Steel in Japan is to cut production of crankshafts by about 10% as a result of newbuilding delivery delays and shipyard cancellations. Crankshafts produced at Kobelco’s Takasago plant near Kobe are for vessels above 10,000DWT and weigh up to 380 tonnes. Much of the output is exported to China.

A JPY 30bn ($320m) expansion program was underway at the Takasago works to increase production of low speed crankshafts by 50% and medium speed crankshafts by 40%. The project started last year when the shipbuilding orderbook was still strong but the plant now faces short time working and other cuts.