DALIAN, China A partnership of INCO ASIAN HOLDINGS (a subsidiary of Inco), KOREA NICKEL CORP. and LIAONING WANZHONG REAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT will build a new nickel foam production plant to supply markets around the world. The joint venture is named INCO WANZHONG ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY MATERIALS. Inco's investment of US$10 million makes it the majority partner.
Construction of the plant will begin immediately in Dalian, a city of 5.0 million people on China's northeast coast. Commercial production at a rate of 2.0 million m annually is expected in the first quarter of 2004. Meanwhile, a pilot plant will produce lesser amounts when it starts up later this year.
Nickel foam at Dalian will be produced by electroplating technology licensed from the HARBIN INSTITUTE, and will initially be targeted at the nickel rechargeable battery world market. Nickel foam acts as the positive electrode substrate in these batteries and is a key element in their performance.
The development is seen as complementary to the Inco nickel foam production facility at the wholly owned nickel refinery at Clydach in Wales, UK. Foam production at the Clydach refinery is based upon the carbonyl gas process which produces foam products with some different characteristics from foams produced by electroplating technology.
Learn more about Dalian, which is becoming an important industrial centre, at www.china-dalian.com.
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