New lead wires keep component costs in check

Stackpole Electronics is changing the lead wire material on its standard carbon film and jumper wire products (CF and JW series) from tinned copper to tinned copper-plated steel.

Stackpole Electronics is changing the lead wire material on its 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".

Back to top