Kobelco probe spreads to tire & rubber machinery

In a 16 Oct reply to an ERJ enquiry, Kobe Steel spokesman Gary Tsuchida said: “So far, we have not found problems in the Machinery Business, which makes products for the tire and rubber industry, but the investigation is still ongoing.”

Last week, a Kobelco investigation initially uncovered “improper conduct” around test procedures and reporting in its aluminium and copper businesses.

On 13 Oct, the group also revealed that some of its iron & steel companies, both in Japan and overseas, had also supplied a series of “nonconforming products”.

Media reports last week suggested that tire-reinforcement products from Kobe Steel were also involved in the scandal. However, this had not been confirmed by Kobelco and ERJ is awaiting a reply to our enquiry on this point.