IperionX achieves major milestone in recycling titanium
First successful HAMR furnace titanium de-oxygenation production run
IperionX (NASDAQ: IPX, ASX: IPX) has recently announced a significant achievement in titanium manufacturing. The company has successfully commissioned the Hydrogen Assisted Metallothermic Reduction (HAMR) furnace, marking a crucial milestone with the first titanium de-oxygenation production run at their Titanium Manufacturing Campus in Virginia, U.S.A.
Anastasios (Taso) Arima, CEO of IperionX, emphasized the importance of this milestone, stating that the IperionX team delivered an important technological and commercial milestone for the global titanium industry. He noted that their HAMR technology has proven its capability at a commercial scale, and they are on track to achieve their goal of reshoring the full titanium supply chain to the United States, offering lower costs and more sustainable titanium products to customers.
HAMR technology: a competitive edge
This initial titanium production run represents a technological breakthrough for IperionX, showcasing a remarkable +60x increase in titanium production capacity. The company utilized 100% scrap titanium (Ti-6Al-4V alloy, Grade 5 titanium) in the production process. Quality assessments revealed a substantial reduction in oxygen levels from 3.42% to below 0.07%, significantly surpassing the ASTM standard requirement of 0.2% for Grade 5 titanium.
IperionX’s proprietary HAMR technologies bring several competitive advantages to the table. The process operates at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption and enhancing overall process efficiency. This technology also offers faster production cycles, increasing throughput and reducing costs. By utilizing 100% scrap titanium as feedstock, IperionX aligns with its commitment to sustainability.
Future plans and expansion
Looking ahead, IperionX plans to commission and optimize additional process equipment to reach full production capacity at their Virginia campus. The company expects end-to-end system operations to be fully functional by late Q4 2024. Furthermore, IperionX aims to expand its Titanium Manufacturing Campus by adding modular, low-risk, and low-cost HAMR furnaces, with a goal to become a leading U.S. titanium producer with an annual output of over 10,000 metric tons by 2030.
IperionX’s successful commissioning of the HAMR furnace marks a major step forward in the company’s mission to revolutionize the titanium production industry. With plans for further expansion and optimization, IperionX is poised to become a leading force in the global titanium market, driving innovation and sustainability in the sector.
