TMC-MR to Increase Secondary Cobalt Output to 30t/m

TMC-MR, a secondary cobalt smelter based in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, will introduce 10 electrolytic cells for cobalt scrap newly and increase its smelting capacity by 30% to 30 tonnes per month in October 2007. The firm also plans to start production of higher-purity secondary cobalt for sputtering target materials.The firm is a subsidiary of TMC, a dealer of rare metal scrap based in Osaka. TMC divided its secondary cobalt unit into a subsidiary in September 2006. TMC-MR started operation last autumn as the first smelter of secondary cobalt in Japan.TMC-MR currently holds total 20 electrolytic cells for cobalt scrap, a half of which is 2-tonne cells and the rest is 2.5-tonne cells. The firm adds 10 cells with 2-tonne melting capacity by conversion of existent copper smelting cells in the same plant.The firm can supply secondary cobalt ingot of 99.6-99.7% purity and 99.8% as a relatively higher purity level. TMC-MR aims to produce even higher purity ingot of above 99.995% at 1 tonne per month through a separated productive method. The firm already started the test production.Cobalt demand is active at domestic and overseas markets for lithium ion battery and superalloy used into airplanes.