Mansfelder, Kupfer, und Messing GmbH (MKM), Germany, has begun the production of high-purity, oxygen-free copper strip via Conti-M technology, which makes it possible to cast, hot-roll, mill, and coil copper strip in a continuous process. The oxygen-free (OFE) copper contains no elements that can outgas in vacuum, is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, and is particularly resistant to hydrogen in both natural and industrial atmospheres.
OFE copper is also resistant to stress corrosion cracking. MKM will be offering OFE copper predominantly to customers in the electrical engineering, electronics, and vacuum systems engineering segments, for whom this high-quality copper strip offers exceptional properties. OFE copper not only possesses very good hot and cold forming properties, but also is good for welding and very good for hard and soft soldering.
According to Roland Harings, CEO of MKM, “With OFE copper strip, we at MKM have now begun a quality-oriented expansion of our product portfolio that fulfils the demands of many of our customers. Numerous tests have clearly confirmed that MKM OFE copper strip can offer exceptionally high quality standards and process reliability.”
MKM is the only manufacturer in the world to offer copper wire, strips, tubes, bars, and sheets from a single source. In the past year, MKM processed 245,000 metric ton of copper, with a workforce of about 1100 employees. Approximately 1000 customers from 60 different countries place their trust in MKM. This positions MKM as a global premium partner for the electronics and construction industry, solar energy, and systems engineering; and the automotive, aerospace and telecommunications segments.
