Jinan Ludong Refractory Co., Ltd., which cooperates with TML, was commended by JFE Steel Corporation.
Published Time:
2022-09-17
Jinan Ludong Refractory Materials Co., Ltd., an equity-method affiliate of Tokyo Trading Group, received an award from JFE Steel Corporation. JFE Steel Corporation is a major steel company (blast furnace manufacturer) in Japan and a core enterprise of the "JFE Group," a subsidiary of the holding company JFE Holdings.
Established in 2003 through the merger of Kawasaki Steel Corporation (Kawasaki Steel) and Nippon Kokan (NKK), JFE Steel Corporation's annual crude steel output (an indicator of steel company size) is approximately 25.76 million tons (2021 fiscal year performance), ranking second in Japan after Nippon Steel. According to the World Steel Association, it ranked 13th globally in 2021, supporting global steel demand.
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From 2020 to 2022, Jinan Ludong Refractory Materials Co., Ltd. overcame numerous difficulties to ensure inventory of refractory raw materials and achieve stable supply of magnesia-carbon bricks. TML has long cooperated with Jinan Ludong Refractory Materials Co., Ltd. to expand the company's product sales in Japan. This award brought great joy to both TML and TBCN (TB China). TML President TML, General Manager Sato, and TBCN Director Gao, and Jinan Office Director Sun Peng attended the award ceremony via video conference. (*) Refractory materials are lining materials used in high-temperature industries (metallurgy, chemical engineering, kilns, machinery, glass, etc.) for melting raw materials or heat-treating materials. They can withstand temperatures above 1500 degrees Celsius. Magnesia-carbon bricks are composed of graphite, the most resistant to slag penetration among refractory materials, and magnesia, which has high melting point characteristics. They have excellent corrosion resistance and are indispensable materials for steelmaking furnaces.
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■ Award Content
・In January 2020, with the initial spread of the novel coronavirus, nationwide lockdowns in China caused logistical delays and raw material shortages; in September 2021, power restrictions led to production halts at electric smelting magnesia plants in Liaoning, causing raw material shortages. At this critical juncture, Chairman Fang Qiang personally visited raw material manufacturers to secure the necessary raw materials. The spread of the coronavirus also caused container ships to be stranded and delayed in various locations, making normal transportation impossible. When conventional transportation could not guarantee delivery deadlines, discussions with TML led to the successful use of ferry transport to ensure on-time delivery.
・In February 2022, to ensure the smooth hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics, some regions were ordered to halt production (including Jinan Ludong). In response, Ludong proactively prepared materials, increased product inventory, and actively communicated with the Jinan municipal government, ultimately achieving early resumption of production.
・In April 2022, with the increase in COVID-19 infections, surrounding areas, including Jinan Ludong, were locked down. During this period, Ludong organized employees to live and eat at the factory, successfully maintaining normal production.
・In July 2022, the expansion of the raw material warehouse at the Jinan Ludong factory site increased inventory, ensuring a more stable supply.
At the award ceremony, JFE Steel Corporation's General Manager Daimon said, "Thank you to everyone at Jinan Ludong Refractory. The chairman personally handled raw material procurement, oversaw operations from the factory, and implemented a top-down response, which I find remarkable. Even in the face of such enormous natural disasters and difficulties, the supply chain remained intact, filling me with confidence."
We also interviewed Chairman Fang Qiang of the award-winning Jinan Ludong Refractory Materials Co., Ltd.
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・ What were your feelings upon hearing the news of the award? The entire staff is very happy to receive this honor. Since its establishment in 1995, Ludong Refractory has been under the care of JFE Steel Corporation. On behalf of all employees, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude. Our business philosophy at Ludong Refractory is to prioritize customers and meet their needs. Since 2017, we have faced intense changes in the raw material market. Based on our customer-first philosophy, we have made every effort to ensure stable supply. We also thank TML and other companies for their support in raw material procurement. |
Subsequently, due to the spread of COVID-19 infections and the impact of the Winter Olympics, various situations arose, including raw material plant shutdowns, logistical disruptions, Ludong Refractory shutdowns, and lockdowns. To ensure stable supply, we stationed representatives at raw material production sites and arranged our own vehicles for delivery. In addition, we actively appealed to the government, achieving early resumption of production, and had employees stay at the company, achieving on-time or early delivery through three-shift production. At the same time, following TML's suggestion, we built a new 1300-square-meter raw material warehouse, ensuring more than three months of raw material inventory and establishing a foundation for stable supply to JFE Steel Corporation. In the future, we will continue to cooperate with Ludong Refractory's three investing companies to provide better service, and we ask for your continued guidance and support. |
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Photo of Letter of Thanks
Jinan Ludong Refractory Materials Co., Ltd.'s contribution has been reported to JFE Steel Corporation President Kitano, who expressed his hope to visit after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. That's fantastic, congratulations!
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