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. , and sponsored primarily by Jiangxi Copper Corporation and Yingtan Land Port Holdings, Zhou Mingliang, Executive Director of Shenzhen Connector Industry Association’s Advanced Basic Materials Application Research Center, delivered a presentation titled “Development Trends of Copper Alloy Materials for Connectors. ” **Connectors Overview** Connectors serve as crucial neural junctions and information pathways in electronic devices, integral to various industries. **AI Computing Power Demand Surge** The rise of AI applications in autonomous driving, medical imaging, and intelligent manufacturing requires potent computing power. Increasing AI model complexity and exploding data volumes further drive demand for high-performance connectors. **High-Speed and High-Frequency Connector Trends** To accommodate enhanced data transmission rates—especially for 5G, data centers, and advanced computing—there is growing market demand for high-speed, high-frequency connectors. Material innovations and precision engineering enable their application expansion into electronics, healthcare, smart cities, and intelligent manufacturing. **Server Industry Innovations** The sector emphasizes high-performance computing to boost efficiency and reduce energy consumption, favors customized modular designs for flexibility, and prioritizes security and reliability amid expanding cloud and big data use. **Digital Infrastructure** Rapid 5G and data center growth intensifies demand for connectors offering high-speed data transmission and impeccable signal integrity. The global connector market is projected to reach USD 100 billion by 2025, with digital infrastructure accounting for approximately 30%. Connectors must deliver low loss, stability, and reliability. **Automotive Industry and New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)** The surge in NEVs drives demand for high-voltage and high-speed connectors crucial for battery management and complex electronics, requiring high-voltage resistance, rapid data transmission, and interference immunity. China’s NEV sales hit 6. 887 million units in 2023, nearly doubling year-over-year, and are expected to exceed 10 million by 2025, fueling connector demand. **Smart Cars and Vehicle Technology** Advancements in battery technology (e. g. , higher energy density and solid-state batteries) enhance efficiency and range. Progression from assisted to fully autonomous driving is fueled by improved sensors, algorithms, and data processing. Intelligent connectivity and smart cockpits provide enhanced interfaces like multi-screen interaction and voice control. Vehicle-cloud collaboration supports autonomous driving and green computing in servers, reducing energy use and carbon emissions, aligned with global sustainability policies. **Industrial Control Sector** Automation and intelligent manufacturing increase connector demand, requiring reliability and data transmission standards. Connectors must withstand harsh environmental conditions, including weather, sealing, and vibration. Investments in R&D focus on next-generation connectors with innovative materials and technologies. **Consumer Electronics Industry** AI-enabled smart devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables bolster connector demand. Rising consumer expectations elevate performance requirements for signal and power transmission.

Despite slower market growth, innovation and adoption of high-precision, specialized copper materials are critical. **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 enhance system stability and reliability and accelerate intelligent manufacturing development. **Copper in Connectors: Why Used?** Copper is favored for excellent electrical conductivity, wear and corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, ease of processing, and thermal stability. Copper accounts for 15–80% of connector component costs (e. g. , approximately 50% in micro-connectors like RJ45). **Connector Market Overview** In 2023, the global connector market was valued at US$81. 8 billion; China leads manufacturing with about 30% market share and strong compound annual growth rate (CAGR). **Copper Alloy Growth Opportunities by 2026 (Forecast)** - Automotive: Copper alloy use in China is expected to reach approximately 500, 000 metric tons by 2025, growing alongside NEV expansion. - Digital infrastructure: Usage projected near 1 million metric tons with continued sector growth. - Consumer electronics: Stable usage around 600, 000 metric tons. **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 for signal transmission. Advances focus on alloy optimization and heat treatment to enhance conductivity, strength, and processability, such as replacing traditional alloys with high-strength/high-conductivity types. Surface treatments like electroplating and hot-dip tin plating improve corrosion resistance and durability. Microfabrication technologies support miniaturized connector designs. *Copper Alloy Rods and Wires* Extensively used in automotive and industrial control for contacts, pins, and transmission cables requiring high conductivity. Innovations target high-strength, high-conductivity alloys and composites (e. g. , copper-nickel-silicon), while precision machining addresses miniaturization demands. Environmentally friendly production emphasizes lead-free, cadmium-free materials to reduce pollution and energy consumption. **R&D in High-Strength, High-Conductivity Copper Alloys** A key challenge is balancing electrical conductivity with mechanical strength. Research optimizes alloy formulations and heat treatments to meet strict performance criteria. Reinforced copper alloys find broad applications across automotive, communications, and industrial sectors, enhancing connector durability and efficiency and driving industrial upgrading. This comprehensive overview highlights current trends, technological advances, and growth prospects for copper alloy materials in connectors, underscoring their critical role across multiple rapidly evolving industries.