Nippon Mining & Metals to Expand Electronic Materials Sales

Nippon Mining & Metals tries to increase the sales of electronic materials and fabricated metal products. The firm targets 30% higher sales for sputtering target materials from Isohara plant in Ibaraki in 3 years through fiscal 2012 ending March 2013 compared with second half of fiscal 2009. The firm also launches new products including positive electrode material of lithium ion battery and plating service for next generation semiconductor. The firm also expands monthly output capacity of melting and heat treatment by 10% at Kurami plant in Kanagawa for 5-6 billion yen.

The firm increases the sales of copper with 99.9999% purity, which is used for trace of large scale integration circuit. The firm already ships sample of new cleaner products with less impurity and got the order from a major semiconductor maker. The firm also ships sample of new tantalum target with 9.9999% purity for barrier metal. The firm tries to increase the world market share from current 60% for semiconductor target materials.

The firm, which is second position with 30% world market share in magnetic material target, targets world No.1 share in 3 years. The firm tries to improve the quality by utilizing technology for target materials of semiconductor when target making shifts from melting and rolling to powder metallurgy to serve hard disc with perpendicular magnetic recording.

The firm also develops new businesses at Isohara plant. The firm already ships sample of positive electrode material for lithium ion battery and eyes annual 2,500 tonnes of production capacity as early as 1 year ahead of original schedule in 2013. The firm also expands production of under bump metallurgy, which is electroless plating service for semiconductor wafer, to 4-5 times in 3 years from current around 5,000 units per month.

The firm adds a melting furnace, a continuous annealing furnace and a heat treatment facility at Kurami plant. The firm increases the monthly output capacity from 3,700-3,800 tonnes to 4,100-4,200 tonnes through the series of expansion including conversion of rolling mill. With the higher capacity, the firm tries to increase the sales of titanium-copper and corson alloy for connectors.