Rare Metal Business Unit
Rare metals and precious metals business, which procures, wholesales and sells high-purity rare metals such as gallium for semiconductors and palladium catalysts for bulk pharmaceuticals from all over the world by utilizing our unique network, and contributes to resource recycling by extracting only metals from factory scrap and selling or processing them in Japan and abroad. We are also engaged in the sintering and recycling of rare metals and precious metal-containing materials. Firing is conducted at two environmentally friendly and safe plants in Japan.
Wholesale and sales of rare metals and precious metals (trading)
We handle a variety of resources from ingots to scrap, including gallium for semiconductor applications, palladium catalyst for bulk pharmaceuticals, nickel and cobalt for automotive battery applications, and tungsten used in carbide tools.
Firing and recycling of rare metals and precious metal-containing materials
We are developing a business in which we receive sludge containing Ni, W, Co, Mo, Ta, Ag, Pd, etc., calcine it at our affiliated companies and return it as a raw material for refining, and also refine it in Japan and abroad and return it as a metal product. We also purchase sludge and other scrap metal.
Business Example “Firing of Cemented Carbide Sludge
Cemented carbide is a sintered alloy of tungsten carbide and cobalt powder and is used as a tool material for metal cutting. On the other hand, about 15% of the pure tungsten weight is disposed of in the manufacturing process. In order to fully recycle this valuable resource, we receive the sludge from our customers and return it to them as raw materials for sintering and refining.
Handling Items
| High-purity ingots and powders | Copper（Cu） |
|---|---|
| Metal Compounds | molybdenum oxide（MoO3） |
| Metal Scraps | Copper |
| Firing and recycling of metal sludge | Copper |
