A new faster, larger additive layer manufacturing system (ALM – commonly dubbed a “3D printer”) being developed in SA could change the way components for the aerospace industry are made. It could also open up new design innovations and save the industry significant amounts of capital.
Russian companies UC Rusal, the world’s biggest aluminium producer, and Norilsk Nickel, a global mining and metallurgical company, plan to build smelters in Indonesia, a government minister says.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/russian-firms-set-to-invest-in-indonesia/544478
(Reuters) – Nickel prices rose to their highest in more than four months on Friday, echoing gains across base metals after the U.S. Federal Reserve launched a new round of aggressive stimulus that investors hoped would help bolster demand for industrial metals.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/metals-nickel-idUSL5E8KEBT020120914
Although China has the so-called monopoly, India has so far attributed rare earth reserve figures of about 3 percent, but the latest data released by the Indian government show this could be about 9 percent of global rare earth reserves.
http://agmetalminer.com/2012/09/13/china-and-indias-rare-earth-battle-heating/
China reduced the number of permits to mine rare earths by 41 percent, tightening production of the metallic elements used in batteries and magnets.
China issued 67 mining licenses for rare earths and 10 exploration permits, the Ministry of Land and Resources said yesterday in a statement. The nation previously had 113 mining licenses, said Wei Chishan, a Shanghai-based analyst at SMM Information & Technology Co.
(Reuters) – Madagascar has signed an operating permit allowing Canada’s Sherritt International Corp and partners to begin production at the Ambatovynickel mine, its government said on Thursday.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/13/madagascar-mining-idINL5E8KDIZA20120913
Santo Domingo. – The mining company Xstrata Nickel Falcondo will shutter Dominican Republic operations in less than five years if it doesn’t get the go ahead to exploit Loma Miranda, in central La Vega province, senior executives warned Thursday.
A collaboration agreement signed between Airbus, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) National Laser Centre (NLC) and aerostructure manufacturer Aerosud on Thursday would see the group test the viability of titanium powder-based additive layer manufacturing (ALM) for the fabrication of large and complex aerospace components.
LONDON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Copper hovered on Thursday near four-month highs hit in the previous session as investors awaited the outcome of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting that was expected to unleash fresh monetary stimulus measures. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/13/markets-metals-idUSL3E8KD3U020120913
Just as the Bronze Age catapulted human civilization to new levels, critical metals are changing the way we live today. Rare earth elements, the group of resources used in the production of certain high-tech goods, from weapons to cell phones, seem to be leading the way.
http://www.mining.com/the-truth-about-rare-earth-the-technology-metals-48745/
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