Factory visit to Sumitomo Metal Industries, Osaka

Sumitomo (Light) Metal Ind. was one of a few big vendors

to my former company in Japan. They supplied metal sheet that

we used to produce sleeving for automobile power steering. 

The sleeves act as a coupler to join metal fitting and high pressure

hose. I was attached to Nichirin Rubber Company during our 
technical training as part of my course.

Inside the Sumitomo plant, there was a huge oven facility 
to process raw metal to produce steel. End products would 
be steel plate and steel rod after extrusion.

The melting chamber was so big which we have to 
climb the stairs up to 3 storey building to enable us 
to see the operation and each process steps done to 
produce steel bar. 

All the visitors have to wear a fire proof uniform for safety reason.

It was a very challenging and interesting experience. The inside

room temperature was very hot and I could not image how the

worker was able to stand there on daily basis.

For Nichirin Rubber Industrial Co, it was established in 1914.

I was there in 1986 during a joint venture with Malaysian company

as I was one of the pioneer group. It was a good move by our

government to promote technical know how and to gain the

industrial expertise through " Look East Policy".

We spent six months over there doing the technical training 
and learning various machine control and operation. 
They have advance facilities and a very high tech

equipment to produce a zero defect components for

auto industries.

It's really an amazing experience.