BookTitleToyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Summary

Toyota Tsusho 70-Year History

Toyotsu Recycle Corp.Business Development in the Environmental FieldBusiness development from an environmental perspective also proceeded duringthis period. In addition to strengthening handling capabilities for materials such asaluminum and high-tensile steel to respond to the trend towards reducing vehicleweight for improving fuel efficiency, Toyota Tsusho was also recycling used carsand spent catalysts.As automobile and parts production became more localized, Toyota Tsushoensured that it could supply materials by establishing an overseas coil center,setting up a logistics processing base, and increasing the number of employeesstationed overseas. In addition, the company began to build a globally optimalprocurement system based on overseas networks.In the accelerating globalization and transformation of general trading companyfunctions, the Metals Division steadily expanded its functions.Aluminum ingotsToyota Steel Center ExpansionIn 1996, stainless and plank steel lines were remodeled at the Toyota SteelCenter. A thin plate line had already been installed to meet demand related toautomobiles. However, as the use of steel structures was partially approved bya legal amendment, the company decided to move into the construction-relatedplanks field, where demand growth could be expected.The stainless steel line began production in December 1996, and productionvolume soon reached 1,000 metric tons per month. The center grew as a pillar ofthe Metals Division by aligning its thin plate and plank lines. In 1998, ToyotsuStainless Sales (currently Toyotsu Tekkou Hanbai Corp.) was establishedthrough joint investment with Sanei, a distributor, and Toyota Tsusho entered thedownstream market.Establishment of Toyotsu Hitetsu Center Co., Ltd.In October 1998, Toyota Tsusho jointly established Toyotsu Hitetsu CenterCorp., with Kobe Steel, Ltd. Kobe Steel, the top domestic manufacturer ofaluminum products, had a partnership with Alcoa Inc. in the U.S., the world’slargest aluminum manufacturer. Based on Kobe Steel’s technology related toaluminum processing, and with the aim of processing and selling aluminumproducts for users in the Toyota Group and the Chubu region, Toyota TsushoToyotsu Hitetsu Center Corp.96