Furukawa Electric’s Copper Strip Production Steadily Increases

Furukawa Electric’s production of copper and copper alloy strips is steadily increasing. The output volume at Furukawa Electric’s Nikko works in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan represents approximately 80% against the productive capacity. Nikko works could possibly enter full capacity production in the second half of fiscal 2011 ending in March 2012.

Furukawa Electric produces copper and copper alloy strips, bars and wires at Nikko works. For April-June, the demand remarkably declined for automotive connector pins along car makers’ low operations after Japan Earthquake. In and after July, the demand rebounded when car makers steadily restored their productions.

Nikko works’ total production including strips, bars and wires kept approximately 4,500 tonnes per month for April-June, almost as much as originally planned. The demand weakened from car industry while speculative orders increased from users and wholesalers after Japan Earthquake. The output temporarily decreased to around 4,000 tonnes in July. The output is expected to maintain the same volume in August including summer holidays.

The production is likely to exceed 4,500 tonnes per month in and after September. The demand could also increase for copper and copper alloy strips from semiconductor industry. Thus Nikko works’ production may approach full volume at 5,000 tonnes per month.

Meanwhile, Furukawa Electric’s yearly sales volume of electrolytic copper foil for automotive lithium ion battery is expected to expand to 3.5 times year-on-year through fiscal 2011 ending in March 2012. The firm presently produces electrolytic copper foil for automotive lithium ion battery at another plant in Tochigi, Japan.