Camden Copper Unveiling

April 23, 2025

American Made, American Owned: Revitalizing Domestic Copper Foil Production to Bolster the
Defense Industrial Base and the Camden, South Carolina Community

Today, a local manufacturing business with deep roots in the Camden community embarks on a bright
future under new, American ownership. The former Denkai America Inc. manufacturing facility is now
Camden Copper, a new company name that honors the people and community that have produced
products critical to the defense industrial base (DIB) for over 30 years.
Camden Copper is the nation’s sole remaining source of defense-grade electrodeposited (ED) copper foil,
an essential material for the microelectronics industrial base that is used in critical defense applications,
including but not limited to printed circuit boards (PCBs), advanced radio frequency (RF) systems, and
electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. Camden Copper looks forward to building upon the legacy
of high-quality products and producing the copper foil the nation needs – American made, American
owned.
In November 2024, the Japan-based parent company of Denkai America Inc. (DAI), announced its
commencement of bankruptcy proceedings and intentions to dissolve and liquidate DAI and its Camden
manufacturing facility. The announcement prompted significant concerns not only from the local
community but from the Department of Defense (DoD) and DIB, which rely upon the copper foil
products from the Camden manufacturing facility.
Principal Mineral, a company focused on developing projects to address strategic gaps in DIB supply
chains, saw the strategic imperative to save and revitalize domestic ED copper foil production in Camden.
In April 2025, Principal Mineral acquired the assets of DAI and established a new business, Camden
Copper, to continue, modernize and expand domestic ED copper foil production to meet DoD and DIB
needs. The new company name honors the city and community responsible for keeping copper foil
production onshore, now and into the future.
Camden Copper will preserve the staff and operations at its Camden facility and work to ensure that it
remains an economic pillar in the local community, providing high-paying manufacturing jobs and
supporting local businesses. Camden Copper employs nearly 50 employees with an average salary which
is 41 percent higher than the average manufacturing wage in Kershaw County. In addition to
approximately $4M in annual employee wages, Camden Copper is generating approximately $14.7M in
annual economic activity in the local community. Camden Cooper growth plans will further drive
additional direct, indirect, and induced economic impact for the local community.
Camden Copper is honored to be a part of the Camden community and it looks forward to continuing to
serve the nation and its defense needs for copper foil products. American made, American owned!