Joetsu Holdings to Start Copper Alloy Ingot Production in Shanghai

Niigata based metal recycling company, Joetsu Holdings will start copper alloy ingot making at Chinese subsidiary, Shanghai Joetsu Bronz1 in November. The subsidiary, which focused on continuous casing products of copper alloy, converted the facility to make ingot in order to meet growing Chinese lead free copper alloy. The firm targets monthly 300 tonnes of sales and eyes 1,000 tonnes future.

The firm makes copper alloy including brass and bronze at the subsidiary, Joetsu Bronz1 in Niigata and the Shanghai plant, Shanghai Joetsu Bronz1. The Chinese plant, which focused on casting with imported materials from Japan to export, got approval to procure raw materials, make alloy and sales in China.

The Chinese plant decided to start ingot making business to meet growing demand for lead free copper alloy in China while the firm has reserve capacity under slower demand. The firm converted the part of the facility for mass production of casting ingot.

Chinese buyers shift to lead free copper alloy under severer regulation in Europe and USA. With the higher demand, the country needs more capacity to recycle lead free copper alloy.