Metal powder, which is a functional material product of DOWA, is used for high density and large capacity magnetic recording media, such as videotapes for broadcasting stations and data storage tapes. DOWA’s metal powder, which is utilized in magnetic material technology, has top global market share, and is playing a part in the advancement of the information society.
The strength of DOWA’s technology in this field began with the production of iron oxide from iron sulfide ore, produced at the company’s Yanahara mine (Okayama Prefecture). From the ferrite magnetic powder of these raw materials, we have accumulated various technologies as we advance production of finer metal powder. While metal powder is produced from iron hydroxide as it is made into iron oxide and then reduced, it is required that the crystals are small and that the individual sizes and shapes are uniform. DOWA’s magnetic material technology clears at a high level such stringent requirements as crystal control, high purification, thin film and surface interface. In addition to metal powder, DOWA’s control technology is utilized to meet a wide range of needs, such as ferrite powder for bonded magnets used for the magnetic rolls and motors of printers and copying machines, carrier powders which play the role of carrying toner inside of copying machines, and with electrical properties (resistance), magnetic properties (magnetizing force) and physical properties (specific weight and particle size distribution).

At DOWA, we manufacture high-performance copper alloy for connectors and lead frames used in automobiles and electronic devices, and DOWA’s copper alloys are also used for information and communication equipment such as smartphones. For example, copper alloys used for the small parts embedded into smartphones are required to have bending workability and high strength so they can be processed into complex shapes. We are developing and manufacturing such things as copper-titanium alloys that have both of these characteristics.
Together with developing high-performance copper alloy through alloy design and microstructure control according to the application and purpose, the strength of DOWA’s technology in this field is enhancing the process technology such as melting and casting, high precision rolling, heat treatment, cutting, pressing and metal plating, and producing high functioning and high value-added metal processed products. In addition to our connector material showing a high level of material properties such as strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, heat resistance and reliability, we have earned a high degree of trust for process technology that enhances the processing accuracy for users.