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It was announced that Sumitomo Electrical Wiring Systems will close its New Model Development Centre by April 2011. The facility is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, engaging in the development of wire harnesses and electrical components for the automotive industry. Some local operations will move to Marysville, Ohio and Lexington to be closer to end-users. In addition, some production operations will migrate to Mexico. The decision of the company will result in some 100 job losses.

Taiwanese end-use sectors that consume copper semis will be impacted by the earthquake in Japan, according to the Industrial Economics & Knowledge Centre. End-use sectors that will face a disruption in the supply or raw materials and parts include display panels, semiconductors, machinery equipment and solar cells. Major Japanese fabricators of electrodeposited copper foil and rolled copper foil JX Nippon Mining & Metals and Hitachi Cable have factories in areas that have been impacted by the earthquake.

Chilean copper producer Codelco expects that new uses of copper, mainly related to its antimicrobial capacity, will boost world demand by 300,000t/y within the next eight years. Potential end use sectors include copper fiber clothes, copper mesh cages for fish farming, and copper surfaces in health care centres and public transport. Codelco participates in development programmes which aim to promote the benefits of using copper.

Fushi Copperweld Inc., a leading manufacturer of copper-clad wire, was granted approval by the Commercial Court of Liege in Belgium to lease a 45,000 square-meter copper tube manufacturing and distribution facility, which would serve as an operational hub for the company in Europe. The plant will produce 5,000-6,000t/y of copper tube and plans are being considered to develop a copper-clad wire production line. During the lease period, Fushi Copperweld will have the option purchase all of the assets for EUR5.8M (US$7.8M).