Synopsis:
Interlink Metals & Chemicals, a Switzerland-based company, is set to build a titanium production plant in Bahrain by mid-2025. This plant aims to produce pure titanium and its alloys and will also feature a facility to recycle unusable scrap into ferro-titanium.
Article:
Interlink Metals and Chemicals has announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art titanium production facility in Bahrain. Scheduled to be operational by mid-2025, this fully integrated plant represents a significant leap for the company in expanding its operations.
The plant will be equipped with an electron-beam (EB) and a vacuum-arc (VAR) furnace. These furnaces are specially designed for the production of commercially pure titanium as well as titanium alloys. The facility aims to produce up to 4,000 metric tons per year of titanium ingot and slab.
Additionally, Interlink's new Bahrain-based subsidiary, Bahrain Titanium (BTI), will build a ferro-titanium (FeTi) facility. This specific area will focus on utilizing scrap that doesn't meet the required specifications for ingot production, ensuring waste minimization.
The venture is not solely restricted to the production of titanium. Interlink also plans to expand into tubed, forged, and rolled products. Though the timeline for these plans remains undisclosed, it indicates the company’s ambition to diversify its product range.
Interestingly, AMIC-Toho Titanium, a joint venture sponge plant in neighboring Saudi Arabia, has issued a letter of intent to supply BTI with titanium sponge as feedstock. This strategic move provides BTI with the opportunity to source materials from other markets like China.
The facility will cater to both Middle Eastern and Western markets. Given the current supply shortfall in Europe and the US, especially after Russia's pullback, the BTI plant comes as a relief to industrial and aerospace sectors. Bahrain's free trade agreement with the US also plays into this, making imports from the plant duty-free.
Conclusion:
Interlink's new titanium facility in Bahrain is a significant development that could potentially alleviate the global supply constraints in titanium production. The plant’s multi-faceted operations, from ingot production to recycling, highlight a well-rounded approach to meet increasing demands and sustainability.
