Vertex Tackles Copper Supply Gap with Proprietary Composite Technology

Vertex Material, a Malaysian advanced-materials company, is tackling the global copper supply gap with its proprietary composite technology. The company's innovation combines copper with waste-derived composite material through a unique formulation and powder-metallurgy process.

The resulting composite contains approximately 70% copper and serves applications where pure copper isn't required but specific levels of electrical conductivity, heat transfer, strength, or machinability are still needed. This allows Vertex Material to produce more usable material from a given amount of raw copper while meeting exact engineering specifications.

Copper availability is becoming an increasingly important consideration for manufacturers in the semiconductor, battery, connectivity, and construction industries, according to CEO Chris Lai. 'Our focus is on helping customers make each tonne of copper go further while meeting the performance their products require,' he said.

The company has signed a 160,000 MT annual off-take agreement with a distributor for its copper-composite material and plans to expand into the US market. Vertex Material is evaluating potential sites for a US facility with a planned annual production capacity of one million MT, targeting completion of the facility fit-out in the second half of 2027 and commercial production in 2028.