Kosaka Smelting & Refining to Expand Recycled Metal Output

Dowa Holdings’ Kosaka Smelting & Refining expands the metal output in fiscal 2009 started April through better operation rate of top submerged lance furnace and higher treatment volume at lead smelting. The firm expands the recycling metals to nickel and tin depending on the market for better profitability.

The firm started operation of TSL furnace last year instead of old furnace. However, the output was 50,000 tonnes in fiscal 2008, which was half of the target due to lower operation rate, while the production with old furnace was around 75,000 tonnes in fiscal 2007. The firm recovers annual 26,000 tonnes of lead, 7,500 tonnes of copper, 4.5 tonnes of gold and 400 tonnes of silver.

The firm improves the operation rate of TSL furnace and cost management. The firm increases the TSL operation by improving blend of raw materials while the firm reduces the cost by improving energy consumption. The firm increases the production to 12,000 tonnes for copper, 5.5 tonnes for gold and 470 tonnes for silver with same level of lead production as fiscal 2008.

The firm uses imported ore and recycling materials including waste electronic substrate. With the TSL furnace, the firm can increase the recycled materials weight to 85-90%, which can be increased to 100% in technically, while the ore weight was around 70% for old furnace. The firm recycles 17 metals now and adds nickel and tin in near future. The firm eyes recycling additional metals including tantalum and niobium.