After the groundbreaking ceremony at the Yokkaichi site in September 1935, the first furnace was test-fired in November 1936 and the Yokkaichi Plant began full operation in December of that year. But the plant’s new start was marred by a number of issues, including a gas pipe explosion, a defective automatic weighing machine and the shortage of skilled workers.
The operation finally came on track later in 1937 and the first lot of new products was shipped to Tokyo. A second furnace was added in the same year and the polishing factory began operations in 1938 but unfortunately demand started to fall due to the Second Sino-Japanese War and other factors. As a result, the Yokkaichi Plan was forced to shut down one furnace and polishing equipment.