wiredinusa July 2011

INDEX

BEFUT International Co Ltd, a developer, manufacturer and distributor of wire and cable products in China, has been selected as an anchor client in the Puwan New Area development zone, where it will build a new facility to develop carbon fiber composite materials. Puwan New Area, a 1045.6-kilometer economic zone, was created for the purpose of fostering research and development projects and to serve as a headquarters for technology innovation within China. The economic zone is located near the major port of Dalian. Mr Hongbao Cao, chairman and CEO, said: “We are pleased to enter this agreement with the Puwan New Area government and to situate development of our carbon fiber composite material project within this economic zone. The carbon fiber project will occupy a 300,000 square meter facility and ultimately we believe this facility will be able to produce 100,000 kilometers per year of high-pressure carbon fiber composite wire. This would equate to over $1.5 billion US (10.3 billion RMB) per year, once this facility is operating at full capacity.” Mr Hongbao Cao continued: “We have a very strong research and development team in place to support our new project. With increased demand in China for carbon fiber, and with its inherent benefits as a lighter material that offers better electrical conductivity, we believe this project will significantly expand our operations.” Plant to produce carbon fiber composite wire

Picture : Alessandro Paiva

Japanese copper wire and cable shipments inched up for the first time in three months in May, but the level stayed at the third-lowest for the month in 35 years as exports declined. Data from the Japanese Electric Wire and Cable Makers’ Association showed May shipments totaled an estimated 51,200 tonnes, down from revised April shipments of 56,172 tonnes. It was the first year-on-year gain since the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and ensuing nuclear crisis stalled manufacturing output. Demand for copper, used in a wide range of products from utensils and construction materials to computer chips, is often seen as a gauge of economic activity. Exports of copper wire and cables fell 2% in May from a year earlier to 1,700 tonnes, reflecting a slowdown in demand in emerging markets, notably China. In the domestic market, demand from the telecoms sector jumped 48.3% to 1,000 tonnes, while demand from the construction sector rose 17.5% to 21,500 tonnes as the Japanese government actioned plans to build over 30,000 temporary houses for those made homeless by the March disaster. Japan copper cable shipments up 3% in May

ASIA NEWS

ASIA NEWS

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wiredInUSA July

wiredInUSA July

39