Inorganics

The Inorganics Sector consists of the Ceramics Division, Carbons Division and Fine Carbon Department.

Ceramics Division

The Ceramics Division provides ceramic products used in a wide range of fields, including chemicals, refractories, ceramics, paper manufacture, plastics and electronics. We have been supplying alumina products to customers inside and outside Japan for over half a century since 1933, when we began alumina production with the first domestic technology we had developed. In our Yokohama Plant, we produce aluminum hydroxide and alumina. In our Shiojiri Plant, we produce abrasives and refractories based on fused alumina, silicon carbide and boron nitride, utilizing our fusion, sintering, and pulverization/classification technologies accumulated over many years. To meet growing demand for ceramics, we are contributing to the development of each industrial sector by improving product quality and using our proprietary technologies.

Carbons Division

The Carbons Division produces graphite electrodes for electric steelmaking furnaces, contributing to the recycling of steel.  The history of graphite electrode production at our Omachi Plant, located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture against the backdrop of the Japan Alps, dates back to 1935.  With the motto of "eco-friendly products," we are engaged in production in strict compliance with ISO 9001 international standards for quality systems and ISO 14001 international standards for environmental management systems. Our graphite electrodes are highly valued by customers inside and outside Japan. We are conducting our electrode business on a global scale, together with our subsidiary Showa Denko Carbon, Inc. based in South Carolina, U.S.A. We also provide a variety of other products, including high-grade carburizing agents for cast iron.

Fine Carbon Department

The Fine Carbon Department seeks to explore the tremendous potential of carbon, utilizing advanced technologies it has accumulated. In addition to already commercialized carbon nanofiber VGCF™, we are working to develop and produce various high-performance carbon products and find their new applications.