URAL is First OEM Truck Maker to Use Brazed Copper-Brass; CuproBraze Radiator-and-CAC Package Offers Durability and Efficiency

NEW YORK--Nov. 2, 20042, 2004--The International Copper Association today announced that URAL, a leading manufacturer of off-road trucks in Russia, recently became the first OEM truck maker in the world to use CuproBraze radiators. URAL expects to turn out 19,000 world-class trucks for 2004, all of which will be equipped with CuproBraze copper-brass radiators manufactured by its main supplier, SHAAZ.

SHAAZ previously opened a high-volume production facility in Shadrinsk, Russia and since then it has begun brazing copper-brass radiators and charge-air coolers for many Russian over-the-road and off-road truck makers. By replacing soldered copper-brass radiators with CuproBraze products made by SHAAZ, URAL is able to skip over intermediate aluminum technologies.

"After our specialists attended several seminars and visited SHAAZ's new plant, it was obvious that CuproBraze was exactly what we needed," says Alexander Vedernikov, manager of technical development at URAL's plant in Miass, Russia. "We were so interested in CuproBraze that we made a financial investment in SHAAZ to help them begin production quickly."

To simplify URAL's assembly process and save time, SHAAZ now supplies URAL with packages integrating the radiators and charge-air coolers. All of URAL's trucks incorporate CuproBraze radiators, and about 95% of the trucks tout CuproBraze charge-air coolers as well.

The decision to adopt CuproBraze, the most advanced heat exchanger technology available today, was a logical one for URAL. The company's 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 truck models are essential to Russian industries such as oil, forestry and agriculture. Trucks that can drive through rough terrain and harsh climates have become crucial to Russia's economy. This means truck radiators and charge-air coolers must be durable to an extreme.

CuproBraze technology joins new alloys of copper and brass with a filler metal that melts at a relatively high brazing temperature. This results in joints that are much stronger than soldered joints.

"Brazed copper-brass serpentine fins are more durable than their alternatives," explains Vedernikov. "The CuproBraze process produces strong, lightweight, compact and efficient heat exchangers."

For technical information, contact the International Copper Association, (212) 251-7245 or write to ICA at 260 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016-2401.

The International Copper Association, Ltd. is the leading organization for the promotion of the use of copper worldwide. The Association's twenty-nine members represent about 80 percent of the world's refined copper output, and its six associate members are among the world's largest copper and copper-alloy fabricators. ICA is responsible for guiding policy, strategy and funding of international initiatives and promotional activities. With headquarters in New York City, ICA operates in 28 worldwide locations through a network of regional offices and copper development associations.