Oct 6 2004
Hitachi Metals, Ltd., Hitachi Metals MPF, Ltd. (Hitachi Metals MPF) and Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. (Nissei Plastic), today announced the commencement of volume shipments of magnesium alloy casings for Sony Corporation’s Network Walkman™ NW-HD1, portable audio player with a built-in hard disk. These cases are the result of a fusion of technology for injection molding of completely molten metal developed by Nissei Plastic and hairline processing technology developed by Hitachi Metals MPF.
For the casing portable audio player with a built-in hard disk, the NW-HD1, Nissei Plastic developed a technology for injection molding of completely molten metal using a special mold to produce the thin-walled bag shape, seamless on five surfaces, according to Sony’s product requirement. To this was added Hitachi Metals MPF’s casting technology and its newly developed all-round hairline processing technology. This technological fusion resulted in a beautifully textured, high-performance magnesium alloy product with advanced design. Sony recognized the superior design and high performance of this magnesium alloy case, and decided to adopt it for the Network Walkman™ NW-HD1. Hitachi Metals MPF has commenced high-volume shipments. Hitachi Metals MPF and Nissei Plastic have plans to use these magnesium alloy product applications as a springboard for the aggressive development of further lightweight thin-walled magnesium alloy products.
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