Furukawa Circuit Foil to Raise Japan Copper Foil Capacity by 30%

Furukawa Circuit Foil, Furukawa Electric’s subsidiary to produce electrodeposited copper foil headed in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, plans to expand the domestic output capacity to total 1,250 tonnes per month from current 950 tonnes toward the end of March 2010. FCF started the construction of a new factory building to manufacture original copper foil at Imaichi East plant in Nikko. The new factory building will complete in spring 2008 in which electro forming cells will be introduced. FCF will also expand the capacity of surface treatment and slitting processes utilizing spaces in the existent factories. The total investment will total approximately 6 billion yen.FCF’s latest output capacity of electrodeposited copper foil accounts for 950 tonnes per month in Japan and 750 tonnes per month at overseas. In Japan FCF operates no.1 and no.2 factories at Imaichi plant and no.3 and no.4 factories at Imaichi East plant all of which are located in Nikko. Imaichi plant produces both commodity and sophisticated type foils while Imaichi East plant is specialized in sophisticated type foil. The output capacity of sophisticated type foil is approximately 450-500 tonnes per month inside 950 tonnes.No.5 factory under construction at Imaichi East plant will manufacture original copper foil for both commodity and sophisticated type products. No.5 factory will have 1.5 times floor space as wide as no.4 factory which is also specialized in manufacturing original foil. There are 20 electro forming cells in no.4 factory. Consequently no.5 factory seems to hold 30 electro forming cells at maximum.FCF sold electrodeposited copper foil of average 820-830 tonnes per month in Japan in fiscal 2006 ended March 2007. The firm plans to increase the sales volume by average 100 tonnes per month in fiscal 2007. The firm decided the output capacity expansion since the domestic equipment is expected to become in full operation within fiscal 2007 and the demand of electrodeposited copper foil seems to grow up in a mid term.Electrodeposited copper foil is used for wiring materials of printed circuit boards, collectors for negative electrode of lithium ion batteries and electromagnetic interference shielding film materials for plasma display panels.