Kobe Steel announces more faked data

TOKYO — The scandal over product inspections data faked by Japanese materials and machinery giant Kobe Steel expanded Friday to include products shipped to more than 500 customers.

Kobe Steel’s president, Hiroya Kawasaki, told reporters that the company had uncovered nine more types of products for which inspections had been faked or manipulated, including copper alloy pipes and molds, and steel wire rods used in vehicle tires and engines.

The problems disclosed by Japan’s third-largest steelmaker are just the latest in a slew of product quality, accounting and corruption scandals that have dented Japan’s image of superior manufacturing prowess.

The latest problems were discovered with shipments of more than 11,000 tons of steel, copper, and aluminum products made by Kobe Steel and its affiliates in Japan, China, Malaysia and Thailand, the company said.

Kawasaki at times appeared close to tears while explaining how it was that the company had chosen not to disclose some of the cases that had been discovered much earlier and discussed at past board meetings.

“Right now, our top priority is to find out the cause and take preventive measures, and to determine if our inadequate products affected our customers,” he said. “I plan to put all my energy into that effort.”