We describe the production and characterization of microelectromagnets made for trapping and manipulating atomic ensembles. The devices consist of seven fabricated parallel copper conductors 3 μm thick, 25 mm long, with widths ranging from 3 to 30 μm, and are produced by electroplating a sapphire substrate. Maximum current densities in the wires up to 6.5×106 A cm−2 are achieved in continuous mode operation. The device operates successfully at a base pressure of 10−11 mbar. The microstructures permit the realization of a variety of magnetic field configurations and, hence, provide enormous flexibility for controlling the motion and the shape of Bose–Einstein condensates.