These two materials (aluminium and copper) are both physically and economically viable for use as conductors in power busbar trunking systems (BTS). Some manufacturers of busbar trunking systems offer a product with copper busbars and others offer a product with aluminium conductors.

These two materials (aluminium and copper) are both physically and economically viable for use as conductors in power busbar trunking systems (BTS). Some manufacturers of busbar trunking systems offer a product with copper busbars and others offer a product with aluminium conductors.

Increasingly almost all major manufacturers are offering both products, leaving the choice to the customer.

Traditionally, for example, in the UK in copper conductors have predominated both for busbar trunking system and cable. In other markets, the USA and mainland Europe for example, aluminium has had the greater role.

Another factor would have been the . In many countries, it can be shown that BTS has increased its share of the market relative to cable, to some extent due the increasing amounts of , in particular for automated industrial units and high-rise commercial centres.

Some of the factors affecting the choice of busbar material are subject to change, in particular the cost of raw material, and the facts needed to allow an informed choice are summarised below.

Read more: Aluminum or copper Busbar trunking system? What do you say?