Our Projects

Pilot Manufacturing Plant for Direct Production of Alloy Powders

Project description and overview:

Kinaltek has a proprietary platform technology for direct production of metal alloy powders based on 27 different metals. The technology is most suited for processing and production of complex alloy compositions, including alloys based on critical metals such as tungsten, tantalum and cobalt. The technology uses precursor chemicals of metal chlorides and metal oxides and is the only technology in the world capable of reducing metal oxides at low temperatures, leading directly to formation of metal powders.

In this project Kinaltek will develop and commercialise the pilot manufacturing plant. The technology has been demonstrated at small scale, where it proved highly agile with apparent universal capabilities for direct low-temperature synthesis of metallic powders and composites. Kinaltek wishes to setup a 2-5 kg semi-batch system (nominal capacity ~5 tons per year) with the capability for synthesis of pure metals and metal alloys, starting from metal chlorides and metal oxides.

The pilot manufacturing plant will be used for producing kilogram quantities for testing in 3-D printing and jetting, in particular for applications using metal composites. Powders produced using the Kinaltek process are most suitable for directly being used in jetting using a binder or in conventional powder metallurgy.

The Kinaltek technology can produce almost any composition based on 27 different metals starting from low-cost precursors. The technology is likely to disrupt the metal alloy and metal compound powder market.

EXPECTED IMPACT

  • Increased collaboration with other manufacturers
  • Increased spending on R&D
  • Increased number of staff with science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) skills
  • Larger patent portfolio
  • Better qualified employees
  • Better energy efficiency
  • Greater capital intensity
  • Newer equipment
  • Larger geographical reach

EXPECTED GROWTH

  • Kinaltek forecast $50M in revenue over 5 years

EXPECTED JOBS

  • This project is projected to upskill and create an additional 7 jobs during the project and within one year of project completion
Contributions:

Government Funds: $500,000 | Industry: $500,000 | In-Kind: $175,000

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