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JAPANESE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND STEEL FOR MEXICAN INDUSTRIES GUILLERMO GONZÁLEZ BENASSINI Vice President of MMC Metal de Mexico
Q: As an international company, what were the main
using tungsten carbide. The most important industries
factors that drove MMC Metal, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi
for MMC Metal in the Mexican market are therefore the
Materials Corporation, to invest in Mexico?
automotive sector, followed by the mining, aerospace and
A: The strength of domestic economic indicators was one
steel industries. In the aerospace and automotive industries
of the main factors for investing in Mexico. International
the most in-demand MMC Metal products tend to be cutting
markets still see this country as a very attractive place for
tools for metal, in the form of interchangeable tungsten
investment. The discipline in the currency policy and fiscal
carbide inserts, and cutters and diamond CBN tools, among
deficit control implemented here over 12 years ago has
others. For the mining industry we make steel drilling parts
won confidence for continued investment; there is also a
such as rotary heads made of carbide, as well as couplings,
real interest in Mexican bonds and equity instruments. The
stilts and rods, which are also used in drilling. Finally, for the
country also offers a qualified workforce at competitive
steel industry, the most popular products are solid carbide
prices, and it is well located geographically, as well as
rolls for lamination and composite rolls for finish.
having free trade agreements with the US, Canada, Central and South America, Europe and Japan, among many
Q: What is the added value that your mining products
others. Today, what makes Mexico even more attractive
offer in the Mexican market?
is the potential signing of the Transpacific Partnership
A: Our value lies in the state of the art technology that we
Agreement.
provide at a lower cost. Our price is lower than or equal to the price you get in the US. We have a good inventory,
Q: What is the importance of smelting within Mexico’s
specialized technical assistance and support from Japan
mining activities, and how well does Mexico perform in its
to teach drilling techniques and optimize resources, in
processing of metals?
order to reduce costs considerably. Mitsubishi Materials
A: The smelting industry plays a dominant role in the mining
Corporation has developed drilling steel for the mining
industry. Even though it is sometimes considered as such,
industry for over 60 years in Japan. The products it
steel is not chemically speaking a metal but an alloy between
manufactures are highly resistant to wear and tear, thanks
a metal (iron) and a metalloid (carbon), which maintains
to the carbide inserts manufactured at our plant. Each
the metallic characteristics of the former and includes
product is also marked, so that we have a record of, and
remarkably improved properties as a result of the latter, as
control over, its manufacturing process. Adding MMC Metal
well as other metallic and non-metallic elements. As a matter
products to new drilling machines results in labor force
of fact the term ‘steel’ applies to a very large set of metal
savings, as well as greater efficiency and safety for our
alloys, depending on the addition of other elements such
clients’ employees.
as nitrogen, hydrogen, boron, oxygen, chromium, nickel, titanium, manganese, vanadium and copper, among others,
Q: What are MMC Metal’s ambitions and goals in the
which develop different levels of resistance and malleability,
Mexican mining industry for the coming years?
depending on their many different uses and applications.
A: The mining industry plays an essential role in the
The smelting industry therefore uses different materials
company’s future plans. We are planning to increase our
from the mining industry to transform the steel and supply
market participation and sales by more than 200% in the
other sectors, such as construction and mining, with finished
next five years. Hiroshi Yao, the President of Mitsubishi
products like rod, wire and steel in different formats.
Materials Corporation, said in this year’s annual message that a careful plan should be implemented to balance
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Q: What are your priority industries in Mexico?
growth and financial performance, and that growth outside
A: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation is a world leader in
of Japan should be increased, especially in emerging
manufacturing products that prevent wear and tear, mostly
markets. That is good news for the Mexican market.