Kobe Steel, Ltd. and U.S. Steel “have reached agreement for their equal partnership joint venture, PRO-TEC Coating Company, to build a continuous annealing line to produce high-strength steel for use in automobiles,” according to Kobe Steel’s press release.

The reports says that, “PRO-TEC will make what is called cold-rolled advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) and ultra high strength steel (UHSS), both of which are new products for the company. Located in Leipsic, Ohio, US, PRO-TEC has been producing hot-dipped galvanized steel sheet for automakers since 1993. The new continuous annealing line will have a production capacity of approximately 500,000 short tons per year to help meet the growing demand for high strength steel sheet for the automotive market.”

Investing about $400 million, construction starts in early 2011, with production in early 2013.

“The facility will produce a wide range of cold-rolled AHSS currently used in the automobile industry. In addition, the new line will be able to make next-generation high-strength steel products with outstanding formability,” says Kobe Steel.

Automakers are now requiring higher-strength steel to meet crash safety regulations and improve mileage. Already reducing the weight of cars through the latest hot-dipped galvanized high-strength steel sheet, PRO-TEC is now addressing the need for suppliers of cold-rolled AHSS sheet in the upper body because it strengthens the overall vehicle structure.

So, Kobe Steel and U. S. Steel are going to offer cold-rolled automotive high-strength steel to the North American market with the same quality steel made in Japan.