The Kawatetsu Techno-Research subsidiary of Kawasaki Steel has thrown open the database of patent and technical information at its Mizushima Steel Plant: the information has hitherto been available only to researchers within company, but now the information will be made available to all – at a price – in both on-line and paper versions; the company expects around 60 search requests per month, and the development is another example of what the embattled Japanese steel companies are doing to diversify their businesses, with information technology the favoured route; Nippon Steel distributes Concurrent Computer’s superminis and sold 30 last year; Nippon Kokan distributes Masscomp’s supermicros; Kobe Steel has developed a 32-bit parallel processing Multibus board; and Sumikin Control Engineering 100% owned by Sumitomo Metal Industries has developed a 32-bit factory automation micro to be marketed as the Multi Ware Series and looks to sell 500 a year.
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