"Watch out for S.M. Lawrence Company" - Front
Page cover story from July 21, 2006.
Click
here for the article.
__________________
SML - Winner of 2006
Pinnacle Award
__________________
DID You KNOW?
In 1943, at the peak of World War II,
cents of zinc-plated steel
were made for a short time due to war demands for copper. A few (the U.S.
Mint reports forty) copper cents from 1943 were produced from the 1942
planchets remaining in the bins. Similarly, some 1944 steel cents have been
reported. Following 1943, salvaged ammunition shells
made their way into the minting process, and it was not uncommon to see
coins featuring streaks of brass or having a
considerably darker finish than other issues.
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Welcome to Mechanical Matters®, an 'E-ZINE'
publication brought to you from Jimmy Veteto, Solutions Provider,
S.M. Lawrence Company, Inc.
Please take a time to read this great article as it pertains to your
building's most important investment, your mechanical systems. We are building mechanical
solutions that matter every time by design.
"Leave the Mechanical Matters® to
us."
_________________________________________
> Copper Prices on the Decline
February 2007
Volume 2, Issue 2
The cost of
copper is on the decline. Will that stop the
thieves?
"In
November of 2006, I dedicated Mechanical Matters® to the
crime rates in Memphis. In that issue I wrote how
the 'Copper Thieves' had
struck Memphis and have contributed to the rising crime
in our city. New studies have shown the cost
of copper is on the decline (see the chart to the left).
Will this stop the thieves? Not Likely.
After a lot of research, I have discovered the many
uses of copper in our industry, and why this metal
remains so valuable despite it's recent price decline.
This is
a publication about mechanical issues, hence the name
'Mechanical Matters®'. In this Ezine I will
address the many issues of copper in the HVAC industry. We
will also discover how Memphis isn't the only city with
'Copper Thieves'. But first let’s learn a little about
copper and its history."
February 19,
2007 Copper prices are $ 2.57 per pound. Information
provided by
www.metalprices.com
Definition
of Copper:
Copper
is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the
symbol Cu (Latin:
cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a ductile
metal with excellent electrical conductivity, and finds
extensive use as an electrical conductor, thermal
conductor, as a building material, and as a component
of various alloys.
History of
Copper:
Copper has played a
significant part in the history of mankind, which has
used the easily accessible uncompounded metal for
nearly 10,000 years. Civilizations in places like Iraq,
China, Egypt, Greece and the Sumerian cities all have
early evidence of using copper, and Britain and the
United States also have extensive histories of copper
use and mining. During the Roman Empire, copper was
principally mined on Cyprus, hence the origin of the
name of the metal as Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later
shortened to Cuprum. This metal has come in
to limelight on account of high volatility in prices.
- (Information provided by Wikipedia. For more
information about copper, click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper
Since the November issue
about the 'Copper Thieves', many of you have asked
about the use of copper in the Air Conditioning and
Refrigeration industry. Copper tubing
is essentially the main ingredient in condenser and
evaporator coils found in air conditioning and
refrigeration equipment alike. These
'coils', which are constructed by copper
tubing, are the most sought after prize by the
'Copper Thieves'. They are constructed with
copper rather than other metals due to their ability
to transfer heat and an excellent
resistance to corrosion.
>The transfer and removal heat is of
course the definition of refrigeration, but we will
save that discussion for an other issue. Click on 'Glossary
of Terms' and then click 'R'
to search 'Refrigeration'
According to the CDA (Copper Development Association),
the use of copper in air-conditioning and refrigeration
systems has grown steadily in recent years. This is due
in large measure to the inherent properties of the
copper metals and their unique abilities to meet the
needs of the ACR (Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) industry. Stringent new requirements, including demands
for increased operating efficiency and the reduction or
elimination of harmful emissions, have led to a new
appreciation for copper's role in product enhancement.
For more information about the CDA, please click on the
following link:
www.copper.org
Below are a few
examples (Provided by
www.Copper.org ) of copper found in Air Conditioning equipment:
1. Tubing: Strong,
corrosion-resistant copper tube is, by far, the leading
choice of modern contractors for plumbing, heating and
cooling installations in all kinds of residential and
commercial buildings. Below are some examples of how
copper tubing is used in the air conditioning industry:
Air
Conditioning Coils
Tubing
for AC systems
Copper
Tubing Fittings
2. Electrical:
Since
the beginning of the electrical age, copper has been
recognized for its unique and beneficial qualities in
electrical applications. As an electrical
conductor for building and electrical wire,
copper is the most efficient, strongest, most reliable
metal available today. With its exceptional current-carrying capacity,
copper is more efficient than any other electrical
conductor.
Copper is also used in the motor windings found in air
conditioning motors and compressors. Below are
a few pictures of copper used in electrical components
found in
mechanical systems:
Wire
used to power Compressors and Motors
Typical
condenser motor. The windings are made of copper
Air
Conditioning compressors use copper windings for
the motor.
"As you can see, copper is
widely used in mechanical systems, and why it's such a
target for the thieves. While researching copper for
this Ezine, I stumbled upon other articles about
'Copper Thieves' in other parts of the world:
Australia - "High cost
of copper cable shocks thieves!" Copper thieves are
shocked by 11,000 volts while cutting into live copper
cable wire." Click on the following link for the
rest of the story:
http://www.gemcell.com.au/archives/863
Italy -
"Copper thieves strip Italy
in "red gold" rush.
Thieves have torn copper
facing from a city bridge, and toxic smoke from the
clandestine burning of insulation off cables is filling
the night sky of some Rome neighbourhoods." Click on
the following link for the rest of the story:
http://news.sawf.org/Lifestyle/27614.aspx
Africa - "Namibia:
Copper Thieves Are Crippling Phone Network."
A recent increase in the
price of copper has had a severe effect on Telecom
Namibia and its customers, as thieves steal to cash in
on the market change." Click on the following link for
the rest of the story:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200702070815.html
While copper is currently
on decline, it's just a matter of time before prices
are closer to $4.00 per pound. Copper is just too
volatile and China is a big reason for that."
'China is the World's biggest
user of copper...'
"China is the world's
biggest user of copper, accounting for 20 per cent of
world production, while the Asian region accounts for
50 per cent of world copper usage, copper demand from
China will continue to rise as the wealth of the
country grows. As per capita GDP rises, people spend
more money on products that contain copper, such
as air-conditioners and electrical appliances.
Further increases in living standards see luxury
products replace standard products and often these
require more copper." -
www.TheAge.com.au
"I hope a few of you took
the time to read this article about copper. I
know, I know...this read wasn't the thrill as catching
thieves, or commendable as our 90 year anniversary.
However, I was able to answer questions many of you had
about this 'precious' metal we call copper.
Next month I promise to
bring a little more excitement back to this Ezine. In
March's Ezine of Mechanical Matters® we will discuss an
HVAC punch list for spring and summer preparation.
Until then, remember - tighten your security defense
when it comes to protecting your copper, and always
remember to leave the Mechanical Matters® to us!"
Thank you for
reading Mechanical Matters®! A publication brought to from Jimmy Veteto,
Solutions Provider, S.M. Lawrence Company, Inc. To sign up a friend, click on the
contact page
and fill out the form. In the comment box type "Mech Matters" and
the name/email addresses of your friends.
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