Provider of sophisticated ceramic materials and refractory metals, H.C. Starck has entered into a deal with CIF Mineracao, a subsidiary of AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group, to procure a significant amount of niobium and tantalum concentrates from AMG’s MIBRA mine in Brazil.
The President and Chief Executive Officer at H.C. Starck Group, Dr. Andreas Meier stated that through this deal, the company has achieved a nonstop delivery of lawful tantalum raw materials. The company employs its Responsible Supply Chain Management System to audit the mining activities of the MIBRA mine that fulfils its stringent regulations on raw materials.
According to Dr. John van Put, who works as Senior Vice President at the Tantalum, Niobium, Surface Technologies & Ceramic Powders business division, the company will procure most of the production of MIBRA mine for the next couple of years. Over the last few months, H.C. Starck has inked several supply deals with other recognized mines in order to ensure its independence from mineral providers of conflict areas for a long period.
According to Meier, the company is against the illegal sourcing of minerals irrespective of the areas. H.C. Starck has received a certification from the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition for its conflict-free sourcing practices in April 2011. Meier further said that the company recycles more quantities of secondary raw materials in addition to ore concentrates.
Source: http://www.hcstarck.com