Non-ferrous metal producer, Dowa Mining, is to build a new waste metal furnace in north eastern Japan to boost recycling, according to Metals Place.

Smelting scrap materials in order to reproduce 19 different metals including pgms, construction on the versatile furnace will begin as soon as the government has given its approval of the project.

Japanese company Dowa will then perform a test run of the furnace for around six months before launching it fully for the autumn of 2007.

Platinum and palladium will both be produced, with plans for the furnace based on smelting technology licensed from an Australian firm, Ausmelt.

A spokesperson for the company told Metals Place that an output goal had not yet been established for the new furnace, since supplies of waste materials which will feed the smelting technology had not been fully determined.

Dowa aims to collect scraps and wastes from its 16 plants across the country but also intends to generate a feedstock supply chain from overseas


Ÿ Adfero Ltd