The history of the Metals Division dates back to 1875, when our company was founded to start operations at the Kusakura Copper Mine (Niigata). In 1877, this business was expanded to the Ashio Copper Mine (Tochigi). As for a copper smelting technology, we established the Furukawa/Outokumpu type flash smelting technology, which is highly-acclaimed as a top level technology. In 1954, we purchased a flash smelting technology from Outokumpu in Finland and subsequently added our own modifications to it for the above technology. The Furukawa/Outokump type flash smelting technology is widely used by copper smelting companies at home and abroad.

Against the background of this technological capability, we import copper ore, and produce and supply gold, silver, sulfuric acid and others as well as copper. We have the optimal production system in place by entrusting Onahama Smelting & Refining Co., Ltd., Hibi Kyodo Smelting Co., Ltd. and other smelting companies, in which Furukawa Metals & Resources Co., Ltd. invests, with smelting operations.

In order to ensure the stable, long-term supply of ore as raw material, we are proactively engaged in overseas mining business, e.g., by investing in the Huckleberry Mine in Canada and the Batu Hijau Mine in Indonesia.