Page 173 - CW E-Magazine (13-8-2024)

News from Abroad

COMMERCIAL SCALE VENTURE
Rare earth magnet recycling and manufacturing

plant in UK set for commissioning next year

Canadian mineral exploration,
Mkango Resources, has announced
that its short-loop rare earth magnet
recycling and manufacturing plant at
Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham,
UK, could start commercial operations
in Q1 2025.

HyProMag is the main industrial including electric vehicles and wind and energy effi cient way to produce a
partner for the project and exclusive turbine generators, and they are also a recycled NdFeB alloy powder, which
HPMS (Hydrogen Processing of key component in electronic devices. is manufactured into a magnet (via the
Magnet Scrap) licensee. HyProMag The development of domestic sources short loop process) or into a rare earth
is 100% owned by Maginito, which is of recycled rare earths via HPMS, a carbonate or oxide (via the long loop
79.4% owned by Mkango and 20.6% homegrown technology, is a signifi cant chemical process).
owned by CoTec Holdings. opportunity for the UK to fast-track the
development of sustainable and com- According to Mkango, HPMS tech-
Mkango said the start-up of opera- petitive rare earth magnet production. nology is underpinned by approximately
tions is subject to the remaining equip- $100-mn of R&D funding, and has
ment being delivered and infrastruc- In parallel with the short-loop major competitive advantages versus
ture being installed by the contractors process being commercialised by other rare earth magnet recycling tech-
on schedule, as well as completion of HyProMag, Maginito subsidiary, Mkango nologies, which are largely focused on
the permitting process. The majority Rare Earths UK, recently commissioned chemical processes but do not solve the
of equipment will initially be owned a pilot facility for long-loop chemical challenges of liberating magnets from
by the University of Birmingham and recycling of HPMS product not suita- end-of-life scrap streams.
utilised by HyProMag as the main ble for the short loop process as well
industrial partner for the project and as swarf. HyProMag is also commercialising
exclusive HPMS licensee. HyProMag is HPMS recycling technology in Germany
said to have ordered additional equip- Both long-loop and short-loop re- and US, with commercial production
ment to debottleneck certain parts of cycling technologies are underpinned targeted for 2025 and 2026, respectively.
the process and is evaluating further by the patented HPMS technology HyProMag is also evaluating other
ways to optimise and debottleneck the developed at University of Birmingham, jurisdictions, and recently launched a
fl ow sheet. Rare earth magnets play a which liberates magnets from end-of- collaboration with Envipro on rare
key role in clean energy technologies life scrap streams in a cost effective earth magnet recycling in Japan.

CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS
Sika announces acquisition in Dominican Republic

Swiss construction chemicals fi rm, manufacturing facility in the the expanded customer base
Sika, has acquired Vinaldom, S.A.S in Dominican Republic where and product offering, will
the Dominican Republic. Vinaldom is a Sika has not previously had improve market access and
family-owned business offering a pro- its own plant. This will provide exciting cross-selling
duct range covering concrete admix- be the sixth factory in the opportunities in the Domini-
tures, fi bres, adhesives, and sealants. Caribbean, increasing Sika’s can Republic and throughout
presence in the region. “The enhanced the Caribbean region,” Sika said in a
Sika said the acquisition will add a production footprint, together with press note.

Chemical Weekly August 13, 2024 173

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