Posted to News on 18th Sep 2018, 11:22
E-book explores boom in demand for copper
Copper is becoming the new gold, with an ever-growing range of applications making the red metal increasingly valuable. It's for this reason that materials search engine Matmatch has released an e-book, entitled Industry in Focus: Copper, explaining how and why material suppliers can take advantage of the copper boom. The e-book is available as a free download from Matmatch's website.
The e-book outlines how copper's unique properties, such as its conductivity and corrosion resistance, make it a prime candidate for use in emerging and existing markets. Matmatch points to areas such as electric vehicle manufacturing, water supply pipes and electrical distribution as being critical areas that are benefiting from copper.
Ben Smye, head of growth at Matmatch explains: "While it's by no means a new material, copper is becoming increasingly valued in new applications. One of the biggest drivers of this interest is the focus on sustainability in many industries. Copper is endlessly recyclable, making it a more versatile alternative to other metals. This recyclability doesn't come at the cost of performance either; the metal is resilient, durable and long-lasting.
"There are several obvious reasons why copper demand is growing. For example, as more electronics are produced every year, an increasing quantity of copper is required to create components. In fact, the Copper Alliance reports that a single tonne of copper is critical in powering 60,000 mobile phones or supplying power to 30 homes.
"However, it's more specialised applications, such as in medical equipment due to copper's antibacterial properties, that present the greatest opportunity to copper suppliers. Our e-book draws attention to some of these areas and explains how suppliers can effectively use online platforms to sell into these newer markets."
Matmatch is no stranger to the copper industry or the markets that it serves. Since launching in late 2017, the material database has grown to include over 9000 types of copper and copper alloys from several suppliers around the world including Goodfellow, KME, and Columbia Metals.
In addition to the e-book, Matmatch has published numerous online resources about copper and its role in industry. These resources further explore specific applications of copper in industry, such as in the electric vehicle market in energy independent vehicles (EIVs) where copper-powered photovoltaic cells provide energy to the vehicle.
Industry in focus: Copper is available to download for free from Matmatch's website. Material suppliers interested in signing up to Matmatch's platform to achieve a digital route to market should register their interest here: matmatch.com/supplier.
