# Kobe Steel to expand sand casting capacity at Daian Works

Kobe Steel has decided to invest in expanding sand casting production capacity at its Aluminum Casting & Forging Plant, Daian Works, to meet demand from commercial aircraft and defense sectors. The investment includes a sand mold 3D printer and X-ray CT scanner, with up to 50% subsidized by the Japanese government.

- Type: Expansion
- Announced: 2026-07-31
- Where: Daian Works, Japan, Japan
- Value: $129.0M (20.7B JPY)
- Starts operating: 2028
- Status: announced
- Products: aluminum sand castings, magnesium sand castings
- Sectors: [Aerospace Components](https://endata.com/sectors/aerospace-components.md), [Automotive Components](https://endata.com/sectors/automotive-components.md)

## Companies

- [Kobe Steel](https://endata.com/companies/6583.md)

## Sources

- [kobelco.co.jp](https://www.kobelco.co.jp/english/releases/2026/1219092_18740.html), 2026-07-31: "Kobe Steel, Ltd. has decided to make a capital investment to enhance the production capacity of the sand casting business at its Aluminum Casting & Forging Plant, Daian Works."
- [jp.ibtimes.com](https://jp.ibtimes.com/kobe-steel-invests-129-million-mie-aircraft-casting-capacity-103272), 2026-07-31: "Kobe Steel said on July 31 that it had decided to invest about 20.7 billion yen ($129 million) to expand production capacity for its sand casting business at the aluminum casting and forging plant at its Daian Works in Mie Prefecture."

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Data from Endata (https://endata.com/). Announcements are summarized from public sources and may be incomplete; check the linked originals.