Japan: Tokai Carbon develops high-quality electrode to reduce costs of EAF mills

Tokai Carbon Co. Ltd., a major Japanese manufacturer of graphite electrodes, has developed high-quality electrodes that will help in reducing the costs of electric furnace manufacturers, as per a Japan Metal Daily report.

This new type of electrode can reduce electrode consumption by about 10% in producing one tonne of crude steel, compared to the conventional product. It is pertinent to mention that the consumption of graphite electrode in EAF is 2 kg per tonne of crude steel.

Tokai Carbon has been promoting measures to improve the quality of electrodes since 2018. Last year, the company made efforts to put an electrode into practical use that can reduce consumption intensity by about 10%.

The company has its two graphite electrodes manufacturing units in Japan - the Hofu Plant (Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) and the Shiga Plant (Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture). In the overseas base, it has its units in Germany and the United States.

The company's Hofu factory in Japan had first developed high-quality electrodes. In the future, the company will consider horizontal expansion to its other units as well.

Furthermore, the company aims to develop an ultra-high quality electrodes that can reduce the consumption by about 30% in the future.

Note: This insight has been published in accordance with an article exchange agreement between SteelMint and Japan Metal Daily.