November 7, 2000 Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd. Toyo Works Receives 2000 Superior High-Tech Facility Award Nisshin Steel's Toyo Works (Toyo City, Ehime Prefecture) has received a Superior High-Tech Facility Award for 2000 from the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. This award was established in 1983, with the aim of promoting the sound development of industry through making a public recognition of business both in Japan and overseas that have achieved efficient operations, improved productivity, and a comfortable work environment and at the same time contribute to the well-being of people, society, and the surrounding communities. 2000 marked the 18th anniversary of the award.

The Toyo Works earned the award for its high quality and productivity, which result from such new technologies as its mechanical descaler, the use of IT to enhance the operational efficiency, resource- and energy-saving as well as recycling measures, and the reduced environmental impact through the introduction of highly durable ZAM coated steel.

On November 7, 2000, Nisshin Steel's President Minoru Tanaka and the Toyo Works' General Manager Toshinori Miki, were among representatives from 18 Japanese and foreign companies, including Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., and NEC Corporation, that received the award in a ceremony held at the Imperial Hotel where bronze trophies and mementos were presented by Nihon Keizai Shimbun's President Takahiro Tsuruta.

A special "Millennium Award" was presented on the same day to five businesses that have received the award in the past 17 years, including Toyota Motor Corp., and Asahi Breweries, Ltd.

The ceremony included a slide presentation of each of the award-winning business sites, announcement of the reasons for selection, and a speech by Noboru Makino, consultant at the Mitsubishi Research Institute and head of the judging committee, in which he said, "Over these 20 years or so, the focus to evaluate winning business sites has evolved to place environmental protection and effective use of IT high on the priority list, along with pursuit of efficiency."

The commemorative party that followed the presentation ceremony was attended by the award recipients, representatives of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (the host), and members of the judging committee, marking a successful end to the ceremony.