Magnetics Business & Technology - Summer 2012 - (Page 24)

INDUSTRY NEWS White Paper on the Management of Thorium and umenting how the very real risks associated with the removal of Thorium and Uranium from rare earth minerals can be accomUranium in Rare Earth Mineral Processing The Rare Earth Industry and Technology Association (REITA) has released the first in a series of white papers devoted to taking a balanced look at a wide variety of issues important to rare earth supply chain stakeholders. “Handling and Management of Thorium and Uranium in Mining and Processing of Rare Earth Minerals” is available for downloading on the White Papers page of the REITA website www. reitaglobal.org. The white paper contains background information on a variety of issues related to the effective recovery and management of thorium and/or uranium. “On the one hand we cover issues related to the known health effects from thorium and uranium exposure in addition to the major exposure pathways for workers and the environment in mining and milling operations,” said the white paper’s author, Brian Park of the Center for Advanced Mineral and Metallurgical Processing (CAMP) at Montana Tech. “On the other hand the paper also gets into the regulatory issues and procedures from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidance documents on the permitting process, and finishes with four case studies describing how current and prospective rare earth operations are approaching these issues. Numerous internet references are also provided for the interested reader if they desire to learn more,” said Park. “Brian and his collaborators have done an excellent job in doc- plished and managed safely protecting workers and the environment,” said Keith Delaney, REITA’s executive director. “One of REITA’s guiding principles is that environmental excellence must be applied throughout rare earth supply chains, and this paper demonstrates that worker and environmental health are imperatives that can be totally compatible with the commercialization of rare earth resources in a variety of global jurisdictions.” Great Western Minerals Group’s LCM Places Order For Second Rare Earth Strip Cast Furnace Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (GWMG) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Less Common Metals Limited (LCM) located in Birkenhead, UK, has signed the contract for the purchase of a second rare earth strip cast furnace. The new strip cast furnace features similar design and output capacity as the first strip cast furnace unit purchased by LCM in 2011 and commissioned in January 2012. “The purchase agreement stipulates that the furnace will be shipped from China prior to the end of November 2012 at which time it will be installed at LCM by a team of engineers comprised of our own technical staff and personnel from the furnace manufacturer,” said LCM Managing Director Ian Higgins. “The manufacturer was extremely complimentary about the level of technical competence and engineering support from LCM during the installation of the first furnace. The second strip cast furnace will increase the total production capacity of LCM to approximately 2,000 tonnes per annum of rare earth alloys.” “GWMG remains committed to the capacity expansion of LCM in response to demonstrated industry demand,” said GWMG President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Engdahl. “Twenty years of experience in the rare earth alloy industry on the part of LCM has meant a smooth transition in adding to our broad range of melting and reduction furnaces. That experience, combined with the planned output of rare earth materials from our Company’s Steenkampskraal operation, will enable GWMG to ramp up quickly in response to demand growth on the part of our global customer base.” New Manufacturing Entity: Innovative Power, Inc. In an effort to better serve their customers, Datronix Holdings Ltd., headquartered in Hong Kong, and Cal Coil Magnetics, Inc., of South El Monte, CA, have formed a new manufacturing entity, Innovative Power, Inc. (IPI). Beginning April 9, 2012, IPI started operations in the new company’s South El Monte facility. Scott Alvarado, former president and owner of Cal Coil Magnetics, became general manager and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of IPI. The new company’s existing work force and staff will be supplemented by future investments planned to modernize and expand production capabilities. 24 Magnetics Business & Technology • Summer 2012 www.MagneticsMagazine.com http://www.reitaglobal.org http://www.reitaglobal.org http://www.fieldp.com http://www.fieldp.com http://www.MagneticsMagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Magnetics Business & Technology - Summer 2012

Magnetics Business & Technology - Summer 2012
Editor's Choice
Injection Molded Magnets for Electrical Machines
The Process of Developing and Testing a New Transformer
Rare Earths & Corporate Social Responsibility
Research & Development
RE-use, RE-duce, RE-cycle, RE-place
Magnets • Materials • Measurement
Application • Component Developments
Industry News
Rare Earth Crisis Dissected: Securing the Future
Marketplace
Advertising Index
Spontaneous Thoughts: The End of Axial Pressing?

Magnetics Business & Technology - Summer 2012