Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum KK (SSK) of Japan has completed construction of an aluminium refining line, which will assist in increasing the company's production capacity of pure aluminium slab from 1000 t a month to 1600 t a month.

SSK rolls the slabs--with purity as high as 99.99 %-into

With the completion of the refining line, SSK has increased its rate of internal procurement of high-purity aluminium slabs from around 70% to 90%. SSK's pure aluminium foil production capacity has also increased from 1500 t a month to more than 1800 t a month.

Increased demand for aluminium electrolytic capacitors for use in electrical appliances has led to higher demand for pure aluminium foils in recent years. Since the third quarter of 2007, pure aluminium foil production in Japan has continued to exceed 4000 t a month.

Meanwhile, the market is expected to grow at an annual rate of around 10% owing to such factors as the Beijing Olympics, to be held this summer, and increased demand for hybrid cars.

For further information, contact: Showa Denko Sakai Aluminum KK, 13-9. Shiba Daimon 1-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8518, Japan; tel: +81-3-5470-3384; Internet: www.sdk.co.jp