IperionX (ASX:IPX) is aiming to deliver the ‘largest scale and lowest unit-cost’ production facility at the company’s Virginia manufacturing campus in the US as it ramps up titanium output over the next 12 months.
The US Department of Defense-backed expansion has begun to deliver the company’s mission of beginning commissioning by mid-2027.
The company’s strategy is focused on accelerated expansion in titanium production capacity to 1,400 tonnes per year – targeting titanium powder unit cost of US$29 ($44.26) per kg.
The expansion expedites a more resilient and sustainable US titanium supply chain, cutting reliance on foreign imports and supporting national security for aerospace, defence, and electric vehicles.
IperionX’s 2025 operations involve commercial scalability validated by higher titanium production capacity and lower unit costs.
The company says all critical systems at the facility have been fully commissioned, demonstrating steady-state production of high-quality, low-cost titanium metal products directly from recycled titanium scrap, using IperionX’s proprietary HAMR and HSPT technologies.
Nameplate titanium powder capacity has increased by 60% to 200 tonnes per year, driven by operational and technology process improvements with no additional capex. The projected titanium powder unit costs have fallen to US$55 per keg at full utilisation, compared to the previous estimate of US$75 per kg.
The titanium manufacturing sales are expected to scale through 2026, with a positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation inflection point projected by the end of 2026.
CEO Anastasios Arima says the company is engineering a step-change reduction in the cost of manufacturing titanium components and building a fully integrated US titanium supply chain that can serve the defence, aerospace, automotive and consumer electronics customers.
The global titanium fastener market is US$4.3 billion annually, with the global stainless steel fastener market US$15.2 billion annually.
IperionX is aiming to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing of high-performance titanium components of more than 10,000 tonnes per year by 2030.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: IperionX
