Employing advanced metal fabrication technology cultivated over the years of business, JX Nippon Mining & Metals has become a global supplier of treated rolled copper foils used in flexible printed circuit boards, as well as of precision Cu alloy products including titanium copper, Corson alloy, and phosphor bronze - all used in connectors, semiconductor lead frames, and other parts. We are also engaged in precious metal plating and stamping, as well as other processes, on a global scale.
JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
Senior Executive Officer, General Manager, Functional Materials Division, Senior Executive Staff, Technology Group
Hyakuno Manabu
The spread of COVID-19 and the advances in work-style reforms have resulted in lifestyle changes such as the spread of working from home and online education. This has led to continued demand growth in the core markets for our products, particularly in the fields of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and PCs, and in communication infrastructure including base stations and data centers. Our treated rolled copper foil and copper alloy strip production facilities, which launched operations in fiscal 2020, continued full production throughout the year, and we successfully increased production and sales to respond to the current expansion in demand. In response to future growth in demand, we will achieve further improvements in efficiency and productivity, and by bolstering Group manufacturing facilities, will increase manufacturing capacity at each of the Group’s sites thus expanding our production structures and strengthening our business foundations.
JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation
Senior Executive Officer, General Manager, Functional Materials Division, Senior Executive Staff, Technology Group
Hyakuno Manabu
Although there is a sense of uncertainty about the future of demand for our advanced functional materials due to lockdowns in China imposed to fight the spread of COVID-19, demand for these materials continues to grow in cutting-edge fields such as electronic devices and telecommunication infrastructure applications.
In a society in which we need to achieve the SDGs, ESG, and decarbonization, we expect to see expanded demand for new applications such as in electric vehicles, recycling, and energy-savings, requiring more sophisticated and diverse materials characteristics. As a company, we will continue with the development of markets and technologies that anticipate changes in market needs, and strive to further bolster our production systems to address this growing demand.
In January 2022, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Philippines, Inc. (JX Philippines) completed the installation of treated rolled copper foil surface treatment facilities, launching operations in order to meet growing demand for rolled copper foil for flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs). In making this investment, we were able to achieve remote facility launch and start mass production operations even though equipment manufacturer engineers faced difficulties entering the Philippines due to immigration restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
This investment not only increases the production capacity of the entire JX Nippon Mining & Metals Group, but also contributes to strengthening our BCP by increasing production capacity at JX Philippines, helping to correct overconcentration of production capacity at the Hitachi Works.
JX Nippon Mining & Metals has the largest market share worldwide for these products, and we will continue to build a supply system in line with market trends in order to continue to provide the materials needed by society.
Facilities for treated rolled copper foil surface treatment
