Demand for brass radiator strip is increasing strongly in South-East Asia, notably in Thailand. Outokumpu Copper Strip is therefore introducing continuous vertical casting of brass radiator strip at its Zutphen plant in the Netherlands. Annual production there will increase to 50,000 tonnes. The method is already in use for the manufacture of copper strip in the company's factory at Finspång, Sweden. ‘We are the only ones in the world with this technology', claims Staffan Anger, Managing Director of Outokumpu Copper Strip, which has its head office in Västerås, Sweden.

Demand for strength in vehicle radiators is increasing throughout the world, as is demand for environmentally-friendly production processes. The brazing technology developed for the manufacture of recoverable copper/brass radiators by Outokumpu Copper Strips is therefore increasingly sought-after, especially in South-East Asia. This environmentally-friendly method requires only moderate investment in new production plant.

The use of ultra-thin copper strip technology is allowing automotive manufacturers to produce stronger, lighter and less costly vehicle heating systems. Called Compact Core, the technology saves up to 30% of automotive heat exchanger material costs by allowing extremely thin and rigid air fins to be manufactured.