Sumitomo Electric Industries builds new recycling plant for used cemented carbide tool for more than 2 billion yen. The group starts the operation in around August to recover monthly 5 tonnes of cemented carbide powder with rich tungsten. The group also builds line to make sample and test cemented carbide. The group improves recycling raw material consumption rate while the group keeps quality level.
The group started the construction of the plant with around 3,000 square meters of floor space in plant of the group company of Axismateria in Hyogo to complete the construction in around June. The plant with zinc treatment process starts operation at around 2 tonnes per month level. The plant targets 5 tonnes of full capacity operation in fiscal 2012 ending March 2013. The plant also has test production line to make cemented carbide from powder to press and sinter. The line is to evaluate quality of recycled powder, cemented carbide powder and cemented carbide. Sumitomo Electric Industries’ wholly owned subsidiary, Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal operates the plant. The firm supplies the recycled powder to the cemented carbide material making subsidiary, Axismateria and the cemented carbide powder and insert chip making subsidiary, Hokkaido Sumiden Precision. Sumitomo Electric Industries group develops other type of recycling business through national project. The project is establishing tungsten recycling with monthly 25 tonnes of capacity. Sumitomo Electric Industries targets 40 tonnes of tungsten recycling including 10 tonnes outsourcing to cover domestic requirement for cemented carbide tool in the group.
