Nippon Mining & Metals to Grow Up Magnetic Target Business

Electronic materials company of Nippon Mining & Metals aims to expand output capacity of its main products including sputtering target and rolled copper foil and to expand magnetic target as the 4th main product through total 35 billion yen of capital investment during 3 years to fiscal 2008 ending March 2009. Isao Yamanashi, president of electronic materials company, explained current business conditions and future visions to Japan Metal Bulletin.Mr. Yamanashi said business condition maintains firm of the 3 main products, rolled copper foil, sputtering target for flat panel display (FPD) and very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI). The shipment of rolled copper foil has increased since March, though it was concerned the inventory adjustment might occur at the beginning of 2006. The shipment of indium tin oxide (ITO) target for liquid crystal display (LCD) is slower than expected when production of the 8th generation LCD panel seems not to enter full operation yet at users, he said. However, Mr. Yamanashi is not concerned about the slow shipment of ITO target and expects the 3 main products could keep favorable conditions hereafter. He said demand for magnetic target is also active for hard disc drive (HDD) when HDD usage field has recently widened for not only personal computers but portable audio player and in-car electric equipment.Mr. Yamanashi said the company aims to grow up magnetic target as the 4th main product. Recording technology of HDD is currently shifting to vertical magnetic recording for which technology Nippon Mining & Metals has advanced prior investment and developed magnetic materials with the users. He expected the firm could catch up with the world largest maker of magnetic target located in Germany, W.C. Heraeus GmbH, in the future. The electronic materials company aims 40% world market share for magnetic target and 50% for materials for vertical magnetic recording.