A major copper film production company of South Korea, Lotte Energy Materials has entered Nvidia's supply chain, starting to provide ultra-low surface roughness (HVLP) Grade 4 copper foil to Doosan Electronics' business group (BG), a manufacturer of copper-clad laminates (CCL), the company announced on December 17.

According to industry sources, Doosan's CCL is used in Nvidia's AI accelerators, and the HVLP Grade 4 copper foil supplied by Lotte Energy Materials will be integrated into Nvidia’s products.

Copper foil, a thin layer of copper, is used in printed circuit boards (PCBs) after passing through CCL. The copper foil from Lotte Energy Materials will be used in the AI accelerator substrates manufactured by Nvidia, marking the first time the company’s copper foil will be featured in Nvidia products.

Lotte Energy Materials has begun mass production of next-generation ultra-low surface roughness copper foil for AI accelerators at its Iksan Plant in North Jeolla Province. The company recently upgraded its general-purpose copper foil line to a dedicated HVLP Grade 4 line, establishing an annual production capacity of 1,800 tons.

HVLP Grade 4 copper foil, with a surface roughness of just 0.8 micrometers, is advantageous for minimizing signal loss. It also features excellent adhesion strength, making it ideal for high-speed signal transmission, thanks to its application of nano-surface treatment technology.

Lotte Energy Materials plans to further expand its production capacity at the Iksan Plant to produce high-value products like network and semiconductor packaging copper foil, in addition to copper foil for secondary battery anode materials. The company aims to build a foundation for future growth beyond its existing market.

“We aim to solidify our position as a key supplier that contributes to the growth of our clients by strengthening our value chain through this supply,” said Kim Yeon-seop, CEO of Lotte Energy Materials.