Mitsubishi Shindoh Increases Copper Alloy Strip Export

Mitsubishi Shindoh is increasing the export of copper alloy strips. Mitsubishi Shindoh’s strip output capacity currently reached 10,000 tonnes per month as a total of Sambo plant in Osaka and Wakamatsu plant in Fukushima, since Sambo plant’s new rolling mill started commercial operation. In future, the export is expected to account for 25% in the total strip production. Mitsubishi Shindoh tries to catch the growing demand in emerging countries by utilizing Sambo plant’s output expansion.

Mitsubishi Shindoh’s strip export mainly comes from Wakamatsu plant at present. Wakamatsu plant currently produces copper alloy strip for electronic materials at 4,500-5,000 tonnes per month, about 30% of which is exported through outer dealers. Sambo plant’s export is less than Wakamatsu plant’s.

Mitsubishi Shindoh has completed the construction of Sambo plant’s new rolling mill and the introduction of productive facilities in March. The mill was established with 7.2 billion yen of investment. The new mill has a large-size cold rolling machine, a tension leveler and a bell-shape annealing furnace to supply coils with 0.08-6.00 millimeters of thickness and 750 mm of maximum width. Sambo plant’s output capacity of copper strip and brass strip increased by 2,000 tonnes to total 5,600 tonnes per month.

The new mill can manufacture high quality surface products those which can be applied to electronic materials. Mitsubishi Shindoh plans to transfer some products from Wakamatsu to Sambo for productive optimization. As a result, Sambo’s strip export is likely to increase. Another merit is that Sambo plant is near an exporting quay.

Wakamatsu plant will increase copper alloy strip production after the optimization of some products transferring to Sambo plant. That means Wakamatsu plant’s strip export is also expected to increase and Mitsubishi Shindoh’s export would increase as total.