This week, the recently acquired Tsuneishi Iron Works in Wakamatsu, Hiroshima prefecture, began full production, after securing the required certification from classification societies and other auditing bodies.

The original investment was made in May 2013, when Kambara family-controlled Tsuneishi bought the facility, including a 60-tonne electric arc furnace from Asian Special Steel Co and Kotobuki Industries for an undisclosed price.