Did you know that the only U.S. producer of a material critical to smartphones, defense systems and artificial intelligence is located in Kershaw County?
Camden Copper is the only U.S. producer of electrodeposited copper foil, an ultra-thin, high-purity copper sheet used to manufacture printed circuit boards, the foundational component inside many modern electronic devices. Inside the Kershaw County facility, thin sheets of copper foil are produced for boards that power technologies ranging from personal cell phones to aerospace systems, forming the conductive layer that allows electronics to function.
Just one year ago, that production line nearly shut down.
The plant, originally established in 1992 and formerly operated under Japanese ownership as Denkai America and previously, Oak-Mitsui Inc., faced closure in 2024 after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. Investment slowed, uncertainty spread among employees and equipment was at risk of being scrapped.
“When we arrived here in February of last year, we were working against the clock and against the scrappers,” said Wes Spurlock, chief operating officer of Principal Mineral, the American-owned company that acquired the facility in April 2025 and relaunched it as Camden Copper.
Spurlock said the plant’s unique status places it at the center of domestic supply chain concerns. “There’s 140 printed circuit board manufacturers in the U.S. There’s one copper foil,” he said.
Neal Clark, Camden Copper plant manager, said the transition worked because it paired decades of technical expertise inside the plant with outside experience in contracts and supply chain management.
“We know how to make it, they know how to sell it,” Clark said, explaining that plant employees focus on the specialized manufacturing of electrodeposited copper foil while Principal Mineral concentrates on strengthening customer relationships and stabilizing the business.
U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman toured the facility in late February and emphasized the connection between domestic manufacturing and national security.
“Camden Copper is a powerful reminder that American manufacturing is still alive and well in South Carolina,” Norman said. “This facility supports good-paying jobs here in Kershaw County and plays a vital role in securing the supply chain for the defense systems that keep America safe.”
Company leaders said the acquisition prevented increased reliance on overseas suppliers. Spurlock said the company is focused on maintaining a domestic source for materials used in defense and technology systems.
“We’re honored to host Congressman Norman at Camden Copper to highlight the strategic materials being produced in South Carolina that directly support U.S. defense and technology systems,” Spurlock said. “Copper foil is an essential input for a wide range of mission-critical applications, and our team is committed to ensuring a secure, reliable domestic supply.”
Copper foil powers technologies that range from personal cell phones to advanced defense electronics systems. It serves as the conductive foundation inside printed circuit boards used in smartphones, laptops, artificial intelligence servers, electric vehicles, aerospace systems, medical devices and telecommunications infrastructure. Industry leaders describe it as a foundational material for systems that compute, communicate and control. Because global production capacity is limited and demand for advanced electronics continues to grow, copper foil has become a strategic supply chain concern. Camden Copper officials say the company’s focus is to maintain a reliable domestic source of the material that supports defense technology, electronics manufacturing and emerging AI infrastructure in the United States.
