Stackpole Announces Change from Tinned Copper Lead Wire to Copper Plated Steel for Carbon Film and Jumper Wire


New lead wire will help offset the dramatic increases in price of copper

RALEIGH, NC (May 31, 2006) - Stackpole Electronics, Inc. today announced they would be changing the lead wire material on their standard carbon film and jumper wire products (CF and JW series) from tinned copper to tinned copper plated steel.

Steel has been used as the base wire for leaded terminations for many years in a limited fashion. Recent improvements in the manufacturing processes for copper plated steel along with the recent spike in the price of copper have made copper plated steel an increasingly more popular choice as a lead material.

Stackpole's Chief Operating Officer, Jamie Mullane, explained the reason for the change. "For low cost resistors such as carbon film, the lead wire material can be as much as 60% of the total cost of the resistor. Since we're not able to control the price of copper, we are changing to a less expensive material to lessen the effects of rising precious metal costs on our customers."

For more information about Stackpole products, contact Stackpole Electronics Inc. at 3261 Atlantic Avenue, Raleigh, N.C. 27604; phone 919-850-9500; fax 919-850-9504; email marketing@seielect.com; or visit the Web site at www.seielect.com.

Stackpole Electronics Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of resistors supplying to the world's largest OEMs, contract manufacturers and distributors. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., the privately held company began manufacturing in 1928 as part of Stackpole Carbon Company in St. Mary's, Pennsylvania. Now affiliated with Akahane Electronics, Stackpole has manufacturing facilities in Japan, Taiwan, China and Mexico; warehousing facilities in El Paso, Guadalajara, Hong Kong and Japan; and sales offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Keywords: Stackpole Electronics, axial leaded resistors, copper plated steel, copper price increases, carbon film, jumper wire, SEI, metal film, metal oxide

Contact Information
Kory Schroeder
Product Engineering Manager
Stackpole Electronics Inc.
919-875-2453
kschroeder@seielect.com

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