 |
But war --- which had so stimulated the development of the Sumitomo metals’ business --- also came home to roost. In the final days of WWII, Sumitomo Metals became a high-priority allied bombing target and its facilities were completely destroyed.
It recovered quickly, however. A half century after the war, Japan is now home to one of the world’s most advanced economies. During the reconstruction process, Sumitomo’s copper- and aluminum-rolling business --- which was closely tied to Sumitomo’s earliest origins --- was made an independent company to enable it to exploit its strengths in a market that had grown substantially as a result of Japan’s overall economic expansion. In 1959, the copper- and aluminum-rolling units were split off to form Sumitomo Light Metal. The new company’s rolled aluminum products supported the growth of the consumer-products sector as household appliances proliferated. Its numerous rolled-aluminum and rolled-copper products also made significant contributions to construction and public infrastructure, for example, finding applications in railway cars as well as in window sashes and exterior walls for buildings.
But while Sumitomo Light Metal has a long history of developing one product after another to meet the specific requirements of the times, it by no means neglects the challenge of pushing into new fields. The pioneer spirit of the Sumitomo Group does not allow it to rest on its laurels. Just as it was doing a century ago, Sumitomo Light Metal is carrying forward the tradition of being a company that serves society.
Preparation of this article was overseen and photos provided by the Sumitomo Shi-ryo-kan and Sumitomo Light Metal.
CORPORATE DATA As of March 31,2002
| FOUNDED |
1897 |
| INCORPORATED |
1959 |
| PAID-IN CAPITAL |
 14.2 billion |
| NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES |
5,636(consolidated) 2,151(parent) |
HISTORIC MILESTONES
| 1897 |
Sumitomo rolled-copper business launched (forerunner of Sumitomo Light Metal) |
| 1898 |
Rolled-aluminum business launched |
| 1901 |
Cast-steel business launched |
| 1935 |
Sumitomo's rolled-copper and cast-steel businesses merge to form Sumitomo Metals |
| 1936 |
Patent application submitted for extra super duralumin |
| 1941 |
Nagoya Works established |
| 1959 |
Rolled-copper and rolled-aluminum units split off from Sumitomo Metals to form Sumitomo Light Metal |
| 1969 |
Chiba Works established |
| 1975 |
Technology Research Institute (now the Research & Development Center) established |
| 1979 |
Sumikei Aluminum Foil established
SLM Australia established to participate in Comalco Limited's alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia |
| 1990 |
Sumikei (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. established |
| 1993 |
Modernization of aluminum-rolling facilities completed at the Nagoya Works |
| 1995 |
Sumikei Guangzhou Metal Products established in China. |
|
 |
Bullet-train cars
500-series bullet-train cars have an aluminum exterior. Sumitomo Light Metal’s technology contributes to Japan’s high-speed railways, which are known globally for their speed, reliability, and safety. |
 |
Cold-rolling mill
Sumitomo Light Metal’s world-class cold-rolling mill for aluminum ingots has been modernized and today meets demand for products from diverse sectors including construction, foods, chemicals, automobiles, and aircraft. |
|
