JFE Holdings, Inc. history, profile and corporate video
JFE Holdings, Inc. is a holding company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Its business is centered around the production of steel. The company is also involved in engineering activities and global trading activities.
The name of the group is JFE Group. “J” is for Japan, “F” is for steel (as in Fe, the atomic symbol of iron) and “E” is for engineering.
JFE GROUP HISTORY
JFE Holdings was formed in 2002 by the merger of NKK and Kawasaki Steel. It was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Osaka Securities Exchange and the Nagoya Stock Exchange.
In 2003, JFE Steel, JFE Engineering, JFE Urban Development and JFE R&D were established, and Kawasaki Microelectronics, Inc. was implemented as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.
In 2008, Universal Shipbuilding Corporation was acquired.
In 2009, the research functions of JFE R&D, which related to engineering, were transferred to JFE Engineering, and JFE R&D was also integrated into JFE Steel.
In 2010, JFE acquired a 14.9% stake in JSW Steel Ltd.
In 2012, JFE Shoji became a wholly-owned subsidiary through a share exchange.
In 2013, Japan Marine United Corporation (currently Equity-method affiliate) was established through the business integration with IHI Marine United Inc. (Universal Shipbuilding Corporation remained as a surviving company).
JFE GROUP PREHISTORY
Kawasaki Steel Corporation
Kawasaki Steel Corporation’s origins date back to 1878 when Shozo Kawasaki established Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard in Tsukiji, Tokyo.
In 1896, Kawasaki Dockyard Company, Ltd. was established (later renamed Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
In 1950, the steel division of Kawasaki Heavy Industries was spun off as independent Kawasaki Steel Corporation (with Yataro Nishiyama as first president)
Nippon Kokan K.K.
Nippon Kokan K.K. was established in 1912 (with Motojiro Shiraishi as first president)
In 1940, the Tsurumi Steelmaking and Shipbuilding Company (formerly Asano Shipyard) was acquired and absorbed.
SUBSIDIARIES
- JFE Steel (Steel business) – is one of the largest Japanese steel manufacturers. It produces sheets, plates, shapes, pipes and tubes, stainless and specialty steels, electrical steels, bars and wire rods, and iron powders.
- JFE Engineerin (Engineering business) – provides technologies to effectively utilize diverse resources as green energy in the environmental and energy fields, and proactively engages in plant operation as well. It globally operates social infrastructure business, such as constructing bridges.
- JFE Shoji (Trading business) – operates globally through supply chain networks across Japan and the world, handling a wide range of products with a focus on steel products, including steel raw materials, nonferrous metals, chemicals, fuel, equipment, ships, foods, and electronics;
- Japan Marine United (Shipbuilding business) – manufactures large-scale ships including tankers, containerships, and dry bulkers, in addition to merchant ships and defense ships, such as escort ships, mine sweepers, and naval ice breakers.
With more than 64,000 employees, JFE Holdings, Inc. is considered one of the Largest Public Companies in the World, according to Forbes.
*Information from Forbes.com, Wikipedia.org, and www.jfe-holdings.co.jp/en.
**Video published on YouTube by “JFEスチール株式会社“.