IperionX (ASX:IPX) has signed an agreement with Aperam Recycling for a titanium processing and product manufacturing program.
Under the agreement, IperionX will use its patented titanium technologies to upcycle up to 12 tonnes of scrap produced from the consumer electronics sector to manufacture a range of high-performance titanium products.
IperionX, which has a market capitalisation of $578.8 million, will initially upcycle one tonne of titanium scrap into powder and then manufacture a range of titanum near-net shapes for specific parts, alongside plate, rod, and wire products.
CEO Anastasios (Taso) Arima says the partnership will advance a more sustainable, fully circular, and traceable US titanium supply chain.
“Our new titanium manufacturing campus in Virginia provides us with the full capability to process titanium scrap feedstocks and manufacture high-performance titanium products for advanced industries,” he says.
Aperam is focused on advancing the circular economy, while ELG Utica Alloys, its American entity, is a global specialist in sourcing and processing titanium, stainless steel, and super alloys, processing over 1 million tonnes of metal per year.
ALG CEO Carsten Becker says the agreement ensures that more titanium is recycled and stays in a closed loop to reduce carbon emissions.
IperionX says titanium is currently sourced over long distances from high-cost supply chains with traceability issues.
Titanium manufacturing generates high volumes of titanium scrap metal, such as cuttings and turnings, that is often downcycled to the ferro-titanium market.
IperionX says its “end-to-end” titanium supply chain solution can unlock new sources of titanium feedstocks, including scrap titanium and US titanium minerals, to re-shore domestic production and manufacture lower cost and more sustainable high-performance products.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: IperionX
