Nippon Mining & Metals to Expand Metal Processing in Suzhou

Nippon Mining & Metals will start plating business by precious metals at Nippon Mining & Metals (Suzhou), the metal manufacturing subsidiary in China. Demand is expected from Chinese sites of Japanese auto parts makers. Nippon Mining & Metals started plating business at another subsidiary in Wuxi as well. The firm plans to operate 2 metal plating sites in China for a while. Additionally Suzhou plant will start output of high-end copper rolled products in August at several hundred tonnes per month. The investment for Suzhou subsidiary will total 1.6 billion yen through fiscal 2008 ending March 2009.Nippon Mining & Metals will construct 2 plating lines in Suzhou with 2 billion yen investment. One line will start operation soon while another line in October 2008. The subsidiary will plate metal parts with gold or tin at several ten tonnes per month with the 2 plating lines.Suzhou subsidiary will also start output of phosphor bronze and 7025 alloy (corson series alloy) products in August. The subsidiary has presented precision rolling service for stainless steels so far. The total output of copper rolled products and stainless steel products will be about 700 tonnes per month. The products will be supplied to Japanese metal parts makers, connector pin makers, and automakers in future.