Japanese copper foil makers try to seek growth in lithium ion battery and smart phone business. JX Nippon Mining & Metals got first order from automotive battery for electrolytic copper foil for lithium ion battery in late 2011. Mitsui Mining & Smelting started sample shipment of foil for battery. They try to expand research and development activity and marketing to secure advantaged position in the international competition.
The foil demand surges as negative electrode material of lithium ion battery when the battery demand increases for electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle. Furukawa Electric dominates more than half of world market share in high performance electrolytic copper foil for battery. The firm is the giant especially for automotive battery. Other foil makers try to expand the development to gain in the area. JX Nippon Mining & Metals started sample shipment in 2010 to get first order in automotive application in late 2011. Mitsui Mining & Smelting, which is strong in ultra thin electrolytic copper foil with carrier, tries to develop high tensile electrolytic copper foil for battery and hard disc drive suspension. Fukuda Metal Foil & Powder developed original ultra thin electrolytic copper foil with carrier. The firm can make minimum 1.5 micrometers of thick as Mitsui Mining & Smelting. Fukuda Metal Foil & Powder tries to get the order in smart phone and other precision devices. JX Nippon Mining & Metals, which is top maker of rolled copper foil for flexible printed circuit, tries to improve the technology advantage by meeting required downsizing and tougher performance.