Business Introduction

Light Metals Business

We source and supply aluminum alloys, new ingots and scrap metals that are used to make them, as well as silicon, zinc, and other materials, on a global basis.
Because of their light weight and durability, aluminum alloys play a major role in reducing vehicle weight, contributing to improved fuel economy and lower emissions. Moreover, the fact that they are almost completely recyclable after use makes them a very effective material from a sustainability perspective.
In addition to supplying the automotive industry, today we offer materials that meet the needs of diverse customers, including manufacturers of industrial equipment, farming machinery equipment, and gas appliances, and aluminum alloy manufacturers.

Global Network of the Light Metals Business

The Light Metals Business provides services in various countries, in both the trading company domain and the manufacturing domain. Leveraging our global supply structure for aluminum materials, we meet our customers’ needs by discovering and procuring materials that offer optimal quality, cost, and delivery, based on abundant information and highly specialized knowledge.

Click on some Country or Region names to view information on HT Group companies.

Business Field

  • Aluminum ingot Aluminum alloys Molten Aluminum/Secondary alloy/Primary alloy
  • Base Metals Primary aluminum (Aluminum with Low Carbon process)/Nonferrous metal scrap/Silicon/Zinc & Magnesium etc.
  • Aluminum turnings Recycling Scrap generated in the manufacturing plants, such as turnings and irony aluminum scrap, is re-melted, to be returned to the customer in either ingot or molten form.

Strength and Features

  • Operation of aluminum alloy manufacturing plants in Japan, Indonesia, and China In addition to our trading company business, we also own aluminum alloy manufacturing plants in Japan, Indonesia, and China, from which we sell our own products. At these manufacturing plants, we are able to confirm the quality of new suppliers and compare processes.
  • Support for material quality testing at factory test laboratory The testing laboratory at the aluminum alloy manufacturing plant provides support for material quality testing, including inclusions found in aluminum metal, metallic structure, and melting yields, for the Honda Group.

Value Chain

We procure primary and recycled ingots and raw materials for alloys from various countries around the world and sell them to a wide range of Honda group companies and other general manufacturers. In addition to procurement, we also support the manufacturers to which we supply products in a range of areas, including providing technical advice and environmental surveys. We also operate a recycling business, in which scrap that has been generated in the plants is re-melted at plants within the group or by partner manufacturers and returned to the customer as recycled materials.

Commercial distribution
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*Aluminum alloy manufacturers（Japan・China・Indonesia）

Flow from procurement to sale

flow from procurement to sale

flow from procurement to sale

Examples of using our materials for automobile-related parts

Casting alloy・Secondary alloy

  • Engine parts Engine parts
  • Mission parts Mission parts
  • Alternators Alternators

Primary aluminum・Primary aluminum alloy

  • Brake parts Brake parts
  • Subframe Subframe
  • Aluminum wheels Aluminum wheels

Examples of using our materials for parts other than automobile-related parts

Casting alloy・Secondary alloy

  • floor panel Building material
  • gas water heater Gas water heater

Primary aluminum・Primary aluminum alloy

  • industrial robot Industrial robot
  • aluminum pan Kitchenware

Case study

Contribution to cost reductions for Japanese company through proposal of overseas-sourced materials

  • Proposed overseas materials to reduce costs Proposed overseas materials to reduce costs We briefed the customer on the company we were proposing and explained its connection to Honda Trading. We have a track record of providing technical guidance in the past to the company being proposed, so could recommend quality as well as price.
  • To confirm quality, we obtained a sample product to conduct quality investigation at our business partner, etc. To confirm quality, we obtained a sample product to conduct quality investigation at our business partner, etc. Customers’ engineers investigated material quality at customers’ analysis laboratory.
    The result - no problem!
  • We conducted QAV on site with the customer. We conducted QAV* on site with the customer. Accompanied customers’ engineers to visit the manufacturer (overseas) we proposed. Confirmed actual production processes and control methods on site. *QAV: Quality Assurance Visit
  • The material is approved for components, contributing to reduction of costs. The material is approved for components, contributing to reduction of costs. The mechanical properties of the cast component passed, making mass production possible.
    Taking advantage of the cost efficiency of the overseas-sourced materials helped to reduce costs.
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