Nippon Steel Sumikin Factory Officially Opens

By JOHN WALKER- jwalker@shelbynews.com

About 150 guests joined company executives and Gov. Eric Holcomb for the official grand opening of a new manufacturing operation in Shelbyville.

Nippon Steel & Sumikin Cold Heading Wire Indiana, or NSCI, 400 Northbrook Drive, makes rolled steel products for the automotive industry at its new 150,000-square-foot factory.

The local facility, representing a $50 million capital investment, is the first bar and wire rod manufacturing operation NSCI has opened in the United States.

“We are Hoosiers,” declared Hideoki Kimura, president of NSCI, at the ceremony Wednesday.

Stepping to the podium under a large tent, Holcomb talked about working with city and county elected officials, and NSCI executives to bring about the project.

“I appreciate so much that cooperative spirit,” said the governor, who noted the state’s strong business relationship with Japan.

“Japanese companies employ about 65,000 Hoosiers,” Holcomb added.

Next at the podium, the general consul of Japan in Chicago, Naoki Ito, praised Indiana’s efforts to partner with Japanese companies.

However, he stated that Japanese officials are worried.

“Free trade is the key to economic growth,” Ito said, clearly alluding to President Donald Trump’s policies regarding tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods.

Finally, Yoshio Sugiyama, senior managing director of Aoyama Seisakusho, which represents NSCI’s shareholders, called the plant opening a big win.

After the official remarks, the governor joined with the other leaders in “Kagami-Biraki,” a traditional Japanese ceremony in which the lid on a barrel of saki is smashed open to toast an event.

Photo caption: Nippon Steel & Sumikin Cold Heading Wire Indiana, or NSCI, 400 Northbrook Drive, is now officially open in Shelbyville, employing about 70 workers. At agrand opening event Wednesday attended by some 150 people, Gov. Eric Holcomb, second from right, joined Yoshio Sugiyama, left, senior managing director of Aoyama Seisakushio, Naoki Ito, second from left, general consul of Japan in Chicago, and Hideoki Kimura, right, president of NSCI, in a traditional “Kagami-Baraki” or Sake Barrel ceremony to celebrate.

Thank you to the Shelbyville News for use of this article!