CDA Mission
The Copper Development Association Inc., CDA, is the market development, engineering and information services arm of the copper industry, chartered to enhance and expand markets for copper and its alloys in North America.
CDA was established in 1962 by the major U.S. producers and soon embraced the brass mill members of the Copper and Brass Research Association, which had been formed in 1921 following WWI. The association has a rich history of serving the industry, its member companies, their customers and all end users of copper and copper alloy products. Through the International Copper Association, CDA is affiliated with 28 similar organizations around the world.
CDA membership is comprised of domestic and international copper producers (mining, smelting and refining) and fabricating companies (brass and wire mills and foundries) with business operations in North America. Associate membership is available to companies that support the copper industry.
CDA membership provides the opportunity to be part of an industrywide market development and technical service program so large and diverse that no one company would be prepared to undertake it alone. The program has ten principal elements:
- Development of New Market Opportunities
Research and development of new applications is essential to sustaining the industry overall and further establishing the importance and the benefits of coppers and copper alloys. Current applications opportunities include: die-cast copper motor rotors to enable the next generation of high-efficiency electrical motors; copper alloy surfaces for hygiene and food processing to enable control of dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus); and semisolid metal forming to provide a commercially viable process for making near net-shape parts from copper alloys. - Expansion of Existing Markets
Industrywide market development efforts are continually expanding the traditional applications of copper and copper alloys. Current CDA projects aimed at making long-time copper markets grow include aggressive promotion of: copper-wound premium-efficiency motors and transformers; power quality fundamentals related to wire sizing and grounding; copper structured wiring for residential use; architectural copper for roofing, wall cladding and interior applications; and free-cutting brass for screw machine products. - Support and Defense of Threatened Markets
Some CDA programs are strictly defensive, to counter penetration of existing copper markets by competing materials. For example, the development of techniques for producing radiator tube from thin strip and the CuproBraze™ method for fabrication of copper and brass heat exchangers and radiators is leading the way to new high-efficiency designs, the emergence of new manufacturers and the reintroduction of copper-based products in this once-major market. Development of the lead-free Envirobrass alloys for potable water applications and the defense of the copper water tube market against plastics are other examples. - Technical Service to End Users
CDA represents the U.S. copper and brass industry as a central authoritative source of technical data and information on the selection, fabrication and use of copper and its alloys. The computer-based Copper Data Center is a fundamental resource for this advisory service, as are CDA's more than two hundred technical publications and its industry-experienced professional staff. This industrywide service to end users supports individual supplier-customer relationships. - Copper Data Center
The Copper Data Center is available free through CDA’s Web site. It provides instant access to the worldwide technical literature on copper and its alloys. Expert engineers evaluate and index reports and articles from around the world, and sophisticated computer techniques are used for storage and retrieval. This advanced facility puts the world literature on copper technology at the fingertips of those who use it. CDA, itself, is the major user of the Copper Data Center in its technical service program to help end users. Other copper development organizations around the world use it in this way as well. - Market Research and Intelligence
CDA continually tracks key copper markets and competitive product information and systematically updates that information on a members-only Web site. Long-term trends are analyzed through detailed proprietary market studies. An annual Market Trends Forum attracts renowned experts who discuss copper-related markets. These and other programs aid member company personnel in their business planning and help guide CDA’s program of industrywide market development and technical service work. - Market Data Reports
CDA keeps member companies apprised of key market trends with current, aggregate statistics on brass mill shipments, including end use, geographic, alloy class and dimensional data. These reports range from monthly to annual. CDA’s Annual Data Report on copper supply and consumption, tracing the flow of copper in the U.S. economy statistically from mine to end-use market, is available on the CDA Web site. The CDA database covers more than 40 years of statistics - Design, Product and Technical Publications
CDA has prepared a library of some 250 publications, including videotapes and CD-ROMs, to make it easier for customers, industry engineers and purchasing managers to select and apply copper, brass and bronze products. CDA uses these publications in its market development and engineering services work. The publications are available in quantity to individual companies for use in their own technical service and marketing programs. - News Bureau and Web Site
Articles of newsworthy market and technical developments for copper, brass and bronze are placed regularly in trade, professional and consumer publications as well as on CDA’s Web Site. The CDA news bureau also publishes Copper Topics, Innovations, Copper in Your Home and other materials to better inform editors and make customers more receptive to copper products.The CDA's Web Site is one of the most expansive association sites in existence. Its more than 10,000 pages of information and technical resources reach hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Together with the News Bureau, it creates favorable public opinion for copper and has established CDA as the authoritative information resource to the media, academia, government, industry and end users.
- Advertising and Promotion
CDA’s national advertising programs highlight the quality, performance and effectiveness of copper-based products, such as plumbing tube and fittings; wire and cable for telecommunications, power, motors and transformers; architectural applications and free-cutting brass. CDA exhibitions at major trade shows complement the trade-journal advertising and take the copper-benefits story directly to users in the major markets.
Offices and Staff
CDA headquarters is located at:
Copper Development Association Inc.
260 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-251-7200, Fax: 212-251-7234
Other offices are located regionally throughout the USA to accommodate particular markets and to provide specialized field services to end users. For more contact information, see CDA Offices and Staff.
Membership
If you are interested in joining CDA, either as a regular member or as an associate member, please go to our Membership page for more information.
According to the CDA by-laws: Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of mining and/or beneficiation of copper ores smelting or the refining of copper production of refined copper by solvent extraction/electrowinning or other hydrometallurgical processes who delivers or sells copper products derived from the above processes in the North American domestic market, and any person, firm or corporation engaged in the fabrication or production of products made in North America, in whole or in part, from copper or copper alloys shall be eligible to become a member of the Association upon the terms and conditions prescribed herein for such members.
