Mining Magazine October 2016 | Page 19

DISRUPTING THE METALS PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
with a substantially lower output of carbon dioxide ,” says Vaughan .
The process also doesn ’ t use any other chemicals , whereas large scale mining companies may use strong acids in the process , presenting environmental concern .
“ The major inputs to our process are electricity and carbon gas , using ceramic consumables and calcium chloride - none of which is environmentally detrimental . Metalysis can produce high value mass market materials much more quickly and with the key benefits of an improved sustainability .”
Metalysis has its clear business case and Vaughan admits that the small company based in the UK plans to become a globally dominant company in the field of solid state metal processing .
“ We are a technology company , the way to create value is to valorise our intellectual property through partnerships and licences . The way we move forward is ventures into partnerships and joint ventures into sales of our intellectual properties through those licences ,” says Vaughan .
It is through partnerships that the company can become a globally dominant metal processing company .
Two key partnerships have been with Iluka Resources , the second largest producer of global titanium dioxide products in the world and global giant BHP Billiton .
“ The involvement of very large branded business evidences the potential of our story , so that ’ s a big plus in investment terms ,” says Vaughan .
“ Perhaps equally important is that they have elements of engineering and commercial skills which are synergistic with what we are doing . If a story like ours is as good as we believe it to be then the big companies should be investing and the good news is – they are .”
Through the partnership with Iluka , Metalysis seeks to remove the total number of processing steps in getting a beach sand resource to a value added product that can be used in an engineering environment .
“ A process like ours can add considerable value . By implication , whether its logistically or technically , a process like ours can add considerable value . If you ’ re doing more with less than the process becomes inherently more sustainably and this is attractive to a business because you ’ re saving money .”
One method of removing those
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