"Super E-Core" 6.5%-Silicon Magnetic
Steel Sheet Attracts Brisk Orders
NKK is receiving an increasing number of orders for "NK Super E-Core," a high-performance 6.5%-silicon magnetic steel sheet used in high-frequency reactor and transformer cores.
The latest order, placed by Romarsh Limited in the UK, totals about 10 tons of sheet for inverter power sources in micro gas turbines. Romarsh, a leading designer and manufacturer of customized power transformers and reactors, highly evaluates NK Super E-Core's superior soft magnetic properties. This company also placed a previous order for sheet used in sub-power system reactors for trains.
NKK pioneered the development of its non-oriented magnetic steel sheet with 6.5% silicon by employing a unique chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology after rolling. The CVD process uniformly applies silicon to steel coil. In 1993, it became the world's first company to commercially produce 6.5%-silicon magnetic steel sheet, which quickly drew attention for its superior magnetic properties and workability.
NK Super E-Core has extremely low core loss (energy loss) at both commercial and high frequencies. It also has nearly zero magnetostriction (deformation resulting from magnetization) and excellent permeability. It has found increasing applications in electric devices and shielding materials, resulting in reduced weight, vibration and noise, as well as power savings. Other applications include heating inductors and uninterruptible power supply systems for computers.
Based on a steady increase in demand, NKK expanded output to about 100 tons per month and began supplying NK Super E-Core to overseas customers in 2000. Exports quickly rose from 30 tons to the U.S. and Europe in fiscal 2000 to 130 tons in fiscal 2001, thanks in part to the addition of Asian customers. For the current fiscal year (ending in March 2003), NKK expects exports to nearly double to about 250 tons, accounting for 20% of total output.
NKK plans to strengthen marketing of the product to respond to the high demand for diverse, high-efficiency energy management, including high-speed motors for electric and hybrid vehicles, fuel cells and distributed power sources in micro gas turbines.
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