PyroGenesis Spinoff for Titanium AM Powder by Plasma Atomization on Track for Q1 2017
PyroGenesis Canada, a clean-tech company that designs, develops, manufactures and commercializes plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, just provided a general update on its additive manufacturing titanium powder plasma atomization strategy. Mr. P. Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis, provided this update in the following Q&A format. The questions for the most part were derived from inquiries received from investors, analysts, and potential customers
PyroGenesis produces very small, uniform, spherical titanium powders that flow like water, and which are highly sought after in the Additive Manufacturing Industry. The company has previously sold these powders to the Biomedical Industry (2001-2004). In 2015, PyroGenesis invested approximately $2 million in improving both the production rate and particle size distribution of its technology, which has resulted in a patent pending for such improvements.
PyroGenesis’ has thus decided to enter into powder production for the Additive Manufacturing Industry, as opposed to manufacturing powder production systems. The first system is to be installed by Q1 2017. The Company’s plan is to spin-off its Additive Manufacturing capabilities in 2017.
Q. Could you please update us on the current milestones to reach powder production?
A. Most certainly. As we have previously stated, our first powder production system (the “System”) is scheduled to be up and running by the end of Q1 2017. This means that, within this timeframe, we will have received all parts, assembled the System, completed commissioning of the System, and conducted the first powder run. The only major items that have yet to be received are the reactor and the feeder, both of which are expected to be delivered in the second half of February. Assembly is expected to be completed within two (2) weeks of receipt of these items and commissioning within an additional two (2) weeks thereafter. The first powder run is scheduled for the last week of March. We note that although there may be delays from suppliers, we believe we have sufficiently estimated for such uncertainties as best as we can, and are confident the first powder run will be completed on schedule.
Q. After the completion of the first powder run, what is the expected ramp up schedule, and when will you be selling powders?
A. It is important to understand that, irrespective of us being in the ramp up phase, our powders will still be available for sale; all of which will come with a certificate of analysis. Our goal is to ramp up to full capacity, linearly, over the ensuing four (4) months after the first powder run. In parallel, PyroGenesis’ existing quality control system (ISO 9001:2008 certified) will be expanded to include additional protocols required by the Additive Manufacturing Industry.
Q. Might you be undertaking any other developments during this time?
Q. On October 25, 2016, PyroGenesis provided an update to the announcement in April 2016, wherein the Company announced its intention to spin-off its Additive Manufacturing capabilities to shareholders. Can you elaborate on the status of this?
A. The market seems to be very interested in where we are in our “spin-off” process. Simply put, we are dedicated to this spin-off for a number of reasons, all of which speak to increasing shareholder value and which we are targeting to have completed in 2017. Over a year ago, we announced our intention to start producing speciality powders for the Additive Manufacturing Industry and, as noted herein, we are on schedule for powder production in Q1 2017. This original announcement garnered such interest that it became apparent that PyroGenesis shareholders might best be served by spinning off this capability; a spin-off would be less complicated to analyze for investors while providing a clear, well defined, entity with which joint ventures, or even an acquisition could more easily be considered. Following our announcement to spin off our Additive Manufacturing capabilities, and while completing our analysis of various spin-off options, General Electric (“GE”) announced its acquisition of Arcam for approximately $700MM. We note that, Arcam’s subsidiary, AP&C, which was acquired by Arcam for CAD 35MM1 in 2014, produced powders using PyroGenesis’ old proprietary technology under an agreement which precluded PyroGenesis from competing against AP&C until 2012. Under Arcam, AP&C became the dominant supplier of speciality powders to the Additive Manufacturing Industry; however as noted above, PyroGenesis has since vastly improved said technology, which improvements remain the sole property of PyroGenesis and have resulted in a patent pending on such improvements. GE’s acquisition of Arcam, and by extension AP&C, has arguably disrupted the supply chain of speciality powders in the Additive Manufacturing Industry, and furthermore, effectively caused end users of such powders to re-examine their access to them, all while PyroGenesis is reentering the market as a supplier of powders. Since GE’s acquisition of Arcam, there has been an increased interest, by others in the industry, in the timing of both PyroGenesis’ powder production and its intention to spin-off its Additive Manufacturing capabilities. This interest has created certain delays as PyroGenesis weighs the possibility of structuring the spin-off to include agreements, contracts and/or partnerships; any of which would increase the value of the spin-off to shareholders. Notwithstanding the above, PyroGenesis is, barring any developments to the contrary, committed to a spin-off in 2017.
