ElectriPlast: A Limited Supply of Copper for a Demanding World

Making

the Case

for

ElectriPlast?


By Vince S.
ElectriPlast Blog Editor


[Blognote: Copper, the second most conductive metal (after silver), was featured in a number of recent articles related to copper’s increasing demand and its soaring price. One article predicted a world shortage of copper in the next two decades; another explored the extensive use of copper in automotives, electrical generation, motors and other conveniences; yet another pointed to the soaring economies in emerging markets and their demand for electricity as a factor in the depletion of copper. Clearly, ElectriPlast cannot replace the worldwide demand for copper; however, given our array of patents and the timely appearance of these articles, ElectriPlast appears to be at the juncture of a ‘perfect storm’ of opportunity.]


Moving Up on the Commodities Market!

Commodities (oil, copper, gold, silver, et al.) play such a critical role in commerce that it is impossible to understate their importance. While new oil fields are being discovered in the Gulf of Mexico, Baja California, off the coast of Brazil and in other parts of the world, it is rare when new copper deposits of significance are discovered. Due to high demand in rapidly expanding nations like Brazil, Russia, India, and China (the BRIC economies according to Goldman Sachs), copper, is being consumed at an alarming rate.

China, the largest consumer of copper, used about 9 billion pounds in 2007, a 9% increase over 2006. Moreover, according to Morgan Stanley, the Middle Kingdom will spend about $350 billion to expand its electrical capacity in the next two years. That will place an additional demand on copper reserves, and we all know the economics of the supply and demand theory. The price of copper has soared 400% since 2003. Worst yet, commodity traders expect the price of copper to reach $8 to $10 per pound in the next decade, reflecting a premium on availability. And don’t forget about the infrastructure needs (power, transportation, telecommunications, water, etc.) of the BRIC economies. They will need copper, copper and more copper. Yet copper reserves are not unlimited. To the contrary, studies suggest that there are not enough reserves to meet even today’s demands beyond the next several decades. Also, recycling isn’t the answer because copper for electrical and electronic uses dominate the US market, but fully 26% of copper products are lost in landfills!

So despite sizeable reserves in US and Chilean deposits, are we just decades away from the end of the 10,000 year old copper “boom”?


What Does this Have to Do With ElectriPlast?

Clearly, ElectriPlast can not reverse the depletion of copper reserves on the planet, nor can it replace many uses for copper; however, as a less expensive conductor of electrical current, ElectriPlast just might extend the life of this amazing metal by serving as a potent substitute for many applications including the following.

--The average new home in America consumes 400 pounds of copper.
--Each new conventional automobile uses about 50 pounds of copper; hybrids like the Ford Escape use close to 250 pounds of copper.
-- Boeing uses 9,000 pounds of copper in each Jumbo Jet; lesser amounts in smaller jets.
--A locomotive engine uses about 16,000 pounds of copper.
--New power grids (think BRIC) require millions of yards of electrical cables.

Extrapolated worldwide, these numbers are even more astounding. It is here at the intersection of supply, demand and expediency that ElectriPlast will make a difference. The automotive sector, for instance, is ready for ElectriPlast.

Why?

It’s in the numbers!


What Numbers?

There are over one billion people in the world who earn enough to be able to afford a car or light truck. They currently drive, curse, crash and buy the 700 million cars on the world’s highways, cloverleaf’s, beltways, secondary thoroughfares, paved roads and bumpy, potholed trails. Moreover, if Tata Motors of India delivers on its promise of a $2500 four-passenger car, automotives on the world’s thoroughfares will increase dramatically as will the squeeze on fuel, the environment, the quality of life and the planet’s resources. Some experts expect India to overtake the US as the world's largest car market by 2038; China will do so ten years sooner). But as the BRIC nations go, so will the demand on copper as well as the energy required to producing the components that go into an automotive conveyance.

Given this scenario, why wouldn’t companies like Ford, GM and Chrysler want to get out in front of these daunting issues by reducing their hybrid load of 250 pounds of copper by using a conductive plastic like ElectriPlast? It makes sense anyway you look at it. Copper is expensive and getting more so each year. It is a major product in a legacy locomotion system that, for environmental and other reasons, is ready to be replaced.

Whether it is the automotive industry, the power generation sector or any of the other numerous industries in which Integral Technologies has patents, this company is situated to make the most their technology.


The Last Line on the Ledger

Wire harnesses, battery plates, battery cables, audio wire or power grid cable wire, rugged laptops or any other application, we are truly at a juncture of an opportunity. Many companies are interested in this technology and that will become apparent shortly.

Shareholders are advised to use their conscience to determine if they have the ability to hang tough on this unique opportunity.