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.

Outokumpu Copper Strip has 50% of the world market, and 65% of the Thai market, for radiator strip in copper and brass.
‘Implementing this new technology in the Netherlands has increased production by 7,000 tonnes while the quality of finished products has risen continuously', explains Staffan Anger. ‘Because of this, we can further improve collaborative development work with our customers, the radiator manufacturers. With this new technology, we can come as close as possible to final size for strip. This means we can eliminate several production stages, saving both time and money.
Anger continues, ‘Continuous casting technology also allows greater freedom of choice in materials and alloys. In addition, it is more environmentally friendly than the older method of ring casting and rolling, because consumption of energy, gas, and water is considerably less'.

Operational in 1997
The new production plant in Zutphen will become operational in mid-97. The Swedish plant has already been using continuous casting for the manufacture of strip in copper and copper alloys for several years.
The technology has been developed in a close collaboration between the Development Division in Västerås (Sweden) and the production plants. Results have been positive, both in terms of quality of finished product and cost-effectiveness in manufacture.

Large-scale investments
The new casting technology has involved investments of USD 45 million in the Dutch factory, which has 400 employees.
‘No other manufacturer in the world works to such fine tolerances as we do', claims Anger. ‘We produce copper strip in thicknesses down to 0.025 mm to a tolerance of ±0.002 mm. This generates large savings for our customers through reduced material consumption'. Copper and brass as radiator materials offer many advantages compared to aluminium. They transfer heat better, they are cheaper, and scrap recovery is almost 100%. In addition, their manufacturing process uses significantly less energy./ins


Captions:
1. ‘Our operations are customer-oriented, and we establish co-operative technical agreements with radiator manufacturers', explains Staffan Anger, Managing Director of Outokumpu Copper Strip, of Västerås, Sweden. ‘and we work with all major radiator makers in Thailand'.

2. The company has the world's most modern plant for the continuous casting of radiator strip. The new technology allows manufacture very close to final size. Continuous casting is also more environmentally friendly than the older methods of ring casting and rolling, in that energy, gas, and water consumption is significantly reduced.

For further information please contact:
Staffan Anger, Chief Executive (Tel: +46 2119 8107)
Gert Lundmark, Marketing Manager (Tel: +46 2119 8299)
Outokumpu Copper Strip AB
Kopparbergsvägen 28
S-721 88 VÄSTERÅS, Sweden
Fax: +46 2119 8041

(Thailand Office)
Outokumpu (Thailand) Co Ltd
22nd Floor Silom Complex Building
191 Silom Road
Silom, Bangrak
BANGKOK, Thailand
Tel: 02 231 3657/8
Fax: 02 231 3659

Press release images