TOKYO - NKK has received an order for the world's first commercial production of X100-tensile-strength steel line pipe. About 500 tons of the X100-grade line pipe, claimed to be the world's strongest, has been ordered by TransCanada, a leading Canadian energy company headquartered in Calgary.

Until now, X70 has been the maximum tensile-strength grade commonly used for line pipe. Use of X100 grade will enable natural gas transmission at higher pressures. With further cost savings due to reduced pipe weight, this can significantly improve efficiency for pipeline operators -- fueling expectations at NKK of widespread application for the new product.

NKK has years of experience manufacturing and supplying large volumes of X80-grade line pipe for customers worldwide. With X100 line pipe in commercial production, NKK is set to play a leading role supplying higher-strength line pipe on the world market.

Since beginning development of X100 pipe manufacturing technology in 1987, NKK has applied its extensive proprietary technology, such as:

• Steel plate production technology based on the NKK Super-OLAC on-line accelerated cooling process. Achieving an ultra-high cooling rate, the process allows rapid, uniform cooling throughout the plate immediately after hot rolling. The resulting steel plate gives X100 line pipe superior strength without loss of toughness, and improved weldability.
• Highly accurate UOE pipe forming and high-quality seam welding technologies, effectively controlling spring-back and peaking faults peculiar to higher-strength steels.

TransCanada (CEO: Mr. Harold Kvisle) is a leading North American energy company, focused on natural gas transmission and power generation. Its network of approximately 38,000 kilometers of pipeline transports the majority of western Canada's natural gas production to the fastest growing markets in Canada and the United States. The company also owns power plants generating 2,250 megawatts, serving the needs of more than two million average households.

NKK's X100-grade line pipe is scheduled to be laid in TransCanada's home state of Alberta in September this year.

For further information, please contact:
   Mr. Kazumasa Sogo
   Manager, Public Relations, NKK
   Tel: +81-3-3217-2143