Japan Steel Industry Adds Facilities for Less Rare Earth Use

Japanese steel industry promotes equipment introduction related to less rare earth consumption or recycle by utilization of governmental subsidies. Hitachi Metals introduces a heating demagnetizer to collect neodymium magnet. Aichi Steel introduces a test line for bond magnet recycle research. Sumitomo Metals (Naoetsu) tries to realize titanium recycling technology by introduction of a new melting furnace.

Hitachi Metals plans to introduce facilities to reduce rare earth consumption in neodymium magnet and ferrite magnet. The firm will also introduce a new melting furnace and a heating demagnetizer for neodymium magnet recycle. At the subsidiary, NEOMAX Kinki, a magnetic powder collecting equipment and a press machine will be introduced.

Aichi Steel promotes recycling research for neodymium-iron-boron bond magnet by introduction of a pilot plant. The firm also plans to introduce a test production line for dysprosium-free neodymium bond magnet. Sumitomo Metals (Naoetsu) will introduce a melting furnace to recycle large size titanium scrap.

CK Metals introduces new equipment to collect bismuth from galvanized scrap. Japan Metals & Chemicals plans to introduce new alloy production facilities for material diversity. Chuden Rare Earth will introduce commercial production facilities for cathode alloy of lithium ion battery or high performance neodymium magnet alloy in order to reduce rare earth consumption.

Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry projects 100 billion yen investment for national rare earth policy. Ministry allocates total 42 billion yen for facilities introduction related to less rare earth consumption or rare earth recycle.