Products
The history of our superconducting technology dates back more than 60 years.
In 1964, the Asada Research Laboratory of Kobe Steel, Ltd. was established, launching advanced research in pioneering fields such as superconductivity, ultra-high pressure, and supercritical technologies.
In the 1970s, we successfully commercialized the mass production of metallic superconducting wires, and in 1979 established an integrated manufacturing system. This achievement enabled us to provide superconducting wires with consistent quality and reliable production capacity. NbTi wire was introduced to the market in 1980, followed by Nb₃Sn wire in 1983. Since then, we have continued to supply superconducting wires to leading research institutions and industrial customers around the world as a pioneer in superconducting wire technology.
In 1988, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project was launched as a multinational collaboration among Japan, the United States, Europe, and the Soviet Union (now Russia). As part of this landmark fusion-energy initiative, we successfully manufactured and supplied 105 tons of Nb₃Sn superconducting wire for ITER's superconducting magnet system, which is responsible for plasma confinement. These superconducting wires were delivered to Japan's ITER Domestic Agency, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (currently the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, QST), between 2008 and 2016. This represents the largest cumulative supply of Nb₃Sn wire by any manufacturer in the world for the ITER project.
Our superconducting wire business consists of two product families of metallic low-temperature superconductors: Nb₃Sn wires and NbTi wires.
• More than 60 years of superconducting technology expertise
• Consistent quality and high reliability through integrated manufacturing
• Advanced processing technologies, including the multifilament technology
• Proven performance across applications ranging from scientific research to industrial systems
• Continuous advancement of high-critical-current-density and low-loss technologies for demanding high-field applications
Our Nb₃Sn and NbTi wires serve as essential materials supporting the advancement of high-magnetic-field technologies, with applications ranging from cutting-edge scientific instrumentation to industrial systems worldwide.