ICA Press Releases on CuproBraze
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NBT DEDICATES CUPROBRAZE PLANT IN CHINA
Chinese Discover Benefits of Brazed Copper-Brass Heat Exchangers
Las Vegas, Nevada (March 15, 2005) — The CuproBraze Alliance announced today that Nanning Baling Technology Co., Ltd. (NBT) is now manufacturing heat exchangers using CuproBraze technology for brazing copper fins to brass tubes and tubes to brass header plates. The innovative CuproBraze technology involves the brazing of copper and brass for the manufacture of durable and efficient radiators and charge air coolers (CACs). NBT plans to turn out 500,000 CuproBraze heat exchangers annually for China’s domestic automotive industry, according to a company representative.
Among NBT’s clients are Second Automotive Group, Dongfeng, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC), Chongching Automotive Co., SGM Wuling Co. Ltd, and Chang An Motor Corp. The new plant also provides capacity for NBT to export to the global automotive parts market in the future. In the meantime, the venture is expected to cater to the growing demands of NBT’s current customers.
“It is a milestone for Nanning Baling Technology to become the first company in China to mass produce CuproBraze heat exchangers,” said Gu Yu, the company’s general manager, at the inauguration ceremonies for its new plant in Nanning’s High and New Industry Zone.
Outokumpu supplies copper strip to NBT’s parent company, Nanning Eight Rhombus Motors Accessories Co. Ltd., a producer of conventional copper-brass radiators and other heat exchangers. Following Outokumpu’s recommendation, Nanning Eight Rhombus and individual investors shelled out 86.86 million RMB (Renminbi, valued at approximately 8.28 per US dollar) for the CuproBraze project.
NBT’s new enterprise represents a significant increase in the production of CuproBraze radiators worldwide. In its technical center, adjacent to the new CuproBraze plant, NBT has the equipment necessary for measuring cooling efficiency. Among that equipment is a wind tunnel from the US. Wind-tunnel testing and heat-transfer simulations show that copper-brass cores hold the advantage for the most efficient heat rejection.
Off-road trucks in China need to operate in a wide range of climates and be forgiving to the quality of coolants. Drivers cannot afford to deal with frequent failures of cooling systems. Because their tubes are made of brass rather than aluminum, CuproBraze charge air coolers and radiators can withstand extremes of pressure and temperatures, thereby limiting repairs in the field. When repairs are necessary, CuproBraze heat exchangers can be easily repaired in the field using simple soldering methods.
NBT is likely to be just the first of many Chinese automotive manufacturers that will produce CuproBraze radiators. Testing results have so far been very encouraging, reports the International Copper Association.
Soon, NBT’s products will begin appearing in Chinese heavy-duty vehicles. “We are optimistic about the success of CuproBraze in China,” said Nigel Cotton, Automotive Manager for the International Copper Association. “Its adoption will be spurred by demonstrations of its reliability over millions of kilometers of service life. Now we are gaining on-road experience in Russia, China and other parts of the globe, with the result that CuproBraze is being considered as the first choice for heat exchangers in ever increasing numbers of applications.”
The International Copper Association, Ltd. is the leading organization for the promotion of the use of copper worldwide. The Association’s twenty-nine members represent about 80 percent of the world’s refined copper output, and its six associate members are among the world’s largest copper and copper-alloy fabricators. ICA is responsible for guiding policy, strategy and funding of international initiatives and promotional activities. With headquarters in New York City, ICA operates in 28 worldwide locations through a network of regional offices and copper development associations.