Sumitomo Completes Construction of New Research Building and Laboratory
10/20/2011 - The Corporate Research & Development Laboratories of Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, completed construction of its new research building and new laboratory, the aim of which is to accelerate R&D processes.
The Corporate Research & Development Laboratories of Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, completed construction of its new research building and new laboratory. With these new buildings, the company aims to accelerate research and development through intellectual exchanges among its researchers in different fields who will be brought together to work in the same building.
The new buildings, designed by Nikken Sekkei, Ltd., will be unveiled to the Sumitomo Metals Group companies on December 6 when the Exhibition of Corporate Research & Development is to be held.
The new laboratory, which is next to the new research building, will consolidate small-sized lab equipments. The aim is to improve mobility of researchers and speed up R&D activities. Laboratory tours will become available and the company’s customers can watch some of the research activities up close.
The new research building uses the "SSS1000" for the first time in the world, according to Sumitomo Metals. This product, developed by Sumitomo Metals, is claimed to be the world's strongest structural steel material. Together with a vibration control device (Steel Unbuckling Brace), a high level of seismic protection capacity has been realized, the company notes.
Other Sumitomo Metals building materials such as a new-structure steel pipe pile installed by the rotary penetration method (GEO-WING PILE™ II) and lightweight welded H-beams (SMart BEAM™) were used for the new buildings, construction of which began in June 2010.