Furukawa Electric’s LIB Cu Foil Output Doubles to 800t/M in March

Furukawa Electric’s electrolytic copper foil production for lithium ion battery (LIB) is expected to double to 800 tonnes per month until the end of March 2012 from the level in a year earlier. Copper foil sales for consumer electronics LIB is same as a year earlier level while the shipment is significantly increasing for automotive LIB. At Imaichi plant in Tochigi, Japan, output weight of copper foil for LIB currently represent 70% in the total production, which is larger volume than copper foil for printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Furukawa Electric holds the world’s top share of electrolytic copper foil applied to automotive LIB. Furukawa Electric has raised output capacity of copper foil for automotive LIB from previous 550 tonnes per month toward 1,000 tonnes at Imaichi plant by conversion of idle facilities for common grade copper foils. The current capacity is 800 tonnes.

Furukawa Electric’s copper foil production for LIB was around 400 tonnes per month in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011. The present production is more than 700 tonnes. Copper foil sales for consumer electronics LIB, mainly adopted to mobile PCs and cellular phones, keep almost same volume as a year earlier level. The sales volume is strongly increasing for automotive LIB.

In Taiwan, Furukawa Electric is constructing a new plant for automotive LIB copper foil with monthly output capacity at 500 tonnes. The plant is scheduled to start operation in August 2012.

On the contrary, sales volume of common grade electrolytic copper foil for PCB is decreasing due to weak demand for liquid crystal panel TVs and personal computers. Furukawa Electric’s recent output volume is 30% lower than a year earlier. In fiscal 2010, output weight of normal grade copper foil accounted for 60% and the rest was for LIB at Imaichi plant.