On April 22, at the CCIE 2025 SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference & Expo and Copper Pipe and Billet Processing Industry Development Forum, organized by SMM Information & Technology Co. , Ltd. , SMM Metal Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co. , Ltd. , with Jiangxi Copper Corporation and Yingtan Land Port Holdings as main sponsors, Zhou Mingliang, Executive Director of Shenzhen Connector Industry Association’s Advanced Basic Materials Application Research Center, presented on “Development Trends of Copper Alloy Materials for Connectors. ” **Connectors Overview** Connectors act as neural junctions and critical information pathways in electronic devices, serving diverse industries. **AI Computing Power Demand Surge** - Growing AI adoption in autonomous driving, medical imaging, intelligent manufacturing demands robust computing power. - Increasing AI model complexity elevates computing requirements. - Exploding data volumes further amplify demand for high-performance connectors. **High-Speed and High-Frequency Connector Trends** - Enhanced data transmission rates drive the evolution of high-speed, high-frequency connectors, especially for 5G, data centers, and advanced computing. - Market demand is growing due to the need for superior data speeds and signal integrity. - Innovations in materials science and precision engineering fuel development, expanding applications from electronics to healthcare, smart cities, and intelligent manufacturing. **Server Industry Innovations** - Emphasis on high-performance computing to boost efficiency and reduce energy consumption. - Shift toward customized, modular designs to improve flexibility and scalability. - Increased focus on security and reliability amid expanding cloud computing and big data usage. **Digital Infrastructure** - Rapid growth in 5G and data centers elevates demand for connectors with capabilities for high-speed data and impeccable signal integrity. - Global connector market projected to reach USD 100 billion by 2025; digital infrastructure accounts for roughly 30%. - Connectors must ensure low loss, high stability, and reliability. **Automotive Industry and New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)** - NEV expansion boosts demand for high-voltage and high-speed connectors vital for battery management and complex electronics. - Requirements include high-voltage resistance, rapid data transmission, and strong interference immunity. - China’s NEV sales reached 6. 887 million units in 2023, nearly doubling YoY, expected to surpass 10 million units by 2025, fueling connector demand. **Smart Cars and Vehicle Technology** - Advancements in battery technology, such as higher energy density and solid-state batteries, enhance efficiency and range. - Progression from assisted to fully autonomous driving driven by better sensors, algorithms, and data processing. - Intelligent connectivity and smart cockpits improve user experience with features like multi-screen interaction and voice control. - Vehicle-cloud collaboration fosters autonomous driving and green computing in servers, reducing energy use and carbon emissions, supported by global policies promoting sustainability. **Industrial Control Sector** - Automation and intelligent manufacturing fuel connector demand with strict standards for reliability and data transmission. - Connectors must perform reliably in harsh environments with resistance to weather, sealing, and vibration.

- Increased R&D investment targets next-generation connectors featuring innovative materials and technologies. **Consumer Electronics Industry** - AI-enabled smart devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables drive connector demand. - Rising consumer expectations raise performance requirements for signal and power transmission. - Slower market growth challenges the industry, urging innovation and adoption of high-precision, special copper materials. **Intelligent and Integrated Connectors** - AI and IoT trends promote intelligent, integrated connectors embedding sensors and controllers capable of self-monitoring, diagnostics, and adaptive functions. - These connectors enhance system stability and reliability and accelerate the shift toward intelligent manufacturing. **Copper in Connectors: Why Used?** Copper offers excellent electrical conductivity, wear and corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, processing ease, and thermal stability. Copper cost constitutes 15–80% of connector component costs (e. g. , ~50% in micro-connectors like RJ45). **Connector Market Overview** In 2023, the global connector market valued at US$81. 8 billion; China leads manufacturing with ~30% market share and strong CAGR. **Copper Alloy Growth Opportunities by 2026 (Forecast)** - Automotive: Copper alloy use expected to reach ~500, 000 mt in China by 2025, growing alongside NEV expansion. - Digital infrastructure: Usage projected at ~1 million mt with ongoing sector growth. - Consumer electronics: Stable application around 600, 000 mt. **Copper Alloy Applications & Technological Advances** *Copper Alloy Strips* - Used in automotive high-voltage connectors, battery management, high-speed/frequency digital infrastructure connectors, and consumer electronics signal transmission. - Advances focus on alloy optimization and heat treatment to boost conductivity, strength, and processability (e. g. , high-strength/high-conductivity alloys replacing traditional types). - Surface treatments like electroplating and hot-dip tin plating enhance corrosion resistance and durability. - Microfabrication technology evolves to support miniaturized connector designs. *Copper Alloy Rods and Wires* - Widely utilized in automotive and industrial control for contacts, pins, and transmission cables with high conductivity needs. - Innovation targets include high-strength, high-conductivity alloys and composites (e. g. , copper-nickel-silicon). - Precision machining advances meet miniaturization demands. - Environmentally friendly production emphasizes lead-free and cadmium-free materials to reduce pollution and energy use. **R&D in High-Strength, High-Conductivity Copper Alloys** - Balancing electrical conductivity and mechanical strength remains a key challenge. - Research optimizes alloy formulations and heat treatments to meet stringent performance metrics. - Reinforced copper alloys are increasingly applied across automotive, communications, and industrial control sectors, improving connector durability and efficiency and driving industrial upgrading. This comprehensive view reflects current trends, technological advancements, and growth prospects in copper alloy materials for connectors, underlining their critical role across multiple rapidly evolving industries.