On January 1, 2016, Taiyo Nippon Sanso and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal established a joint venture of 50-50 investment named Yawata Sanso Center (capital: JPY 100 million), and is going to start an on-site supply of air gases to Yawata Steel Works of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal.

The two companies have so far been engaged as joint venture in the on-site gas business at steel works in Nagoya and Oita. In Yawata Steel Works, they jointly have been managing Yahata Kyodo Ekisan (established in April 2007) to liquefy gas from Yawata Steel Works and functioning as the liquid supply base for delivery to the downtown area. This time they also started the on-site gas supply business for the supply to steel works as well as for the ongoing liquid production.

Taiyo Nippon Sanso newly establishes an ASU with a capacity of GO 35,000Nm3 per hour in harmony with this. The capacity of the plant consists of 35,000Nm3 of gaseous oxygen, 50,000Nm3 of gaseous nitrogen, 1,250Nm3 of liquid nitrogen and 1,220Nm3 of crude argon gas per hour respectively. The plant is manufactured by Taiyo Nippon Sanso for a scheduled start of operation in the beginning of 2017.

At present Yawata Steel Works has 5 cryogenic air separation plants (with capacities of 35,600Nm3, 25,000Nm3, 15,000Nm3 x 2 units and 10,000Nm3 per hour respectively). Taking the opportunity of the new establishment, they are planning to make out some measures about the working aged facilities.

In addition, the existing capacity of liquefaction is 7,000Nm3 per hour in total including both liquid oxygen and nitrogen. With the increase of the new equipment at this time, the liquid production capacity of the company will be enhanced by 18% approximately.