Harper International, world leader in custom-engineered thermal processing solutions for advanced materials, is proud to announce the completion of trials for cobalt-pyrite concentrate using a rotary furnace.
Harper, through its Ignite Program, which is used for pilot testing and scale-up trials related to continuous thermal processing, partnered with Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited (ASX: COB, New South Wales, Australia) to ensure early phase pilot-scale testing success for their battery material thermal decomposition process. This project represents a confirmation step of earlier lab-scale tests that were conducted in batch-mode. Cobalt Blue aims to scale up to commercial volume operations through process development, optimization, and piloting.
The Harper International Ignite Technology Center’s 6-inch Rotary Furnace was chosen by the client for the high quality design, engineering, and construction for which Harper is known. The equipment is a gas-tight furnace suitable for inert to flammable or specialty gases with temperatures of up to 1500°C. Additionally, the flexibility of Harper’s pilot furnace design allows engineers to make modifications to tailor to the specific customer process requirements.
With our Ignite Program, Harper’s Ph.D’s and Engineers are involved from start to finish. Harper’s systematic approach to process development involves optimizing the best process with our customers and technical experts. Once the process is defined, Harper then collects the data to scale up the system for commercialization with a full scale production furnace system.
“Harper’s Ignite program offers a variety of flexible equipment platforms for advanced materials producers to validate their continuous thermal processing concepts on a small scale” says Paul Elwell, Harper’s VP of Sales & Marketing. “Confidence gained during the Ignite program translates to a lower risk profile during scale-up planning and execution phases.”
Harper International is a global leader in complete thermal processing solutions and technical services for the production of advanced materials. From concept to commercialization, from research scale to full production line operations, Harper delivers the most innovative furnace and oven designs in the world. For decades, they have pioneered thermal processing technology innovations with a focus on systems operating from 500 to 3000°C and in non-ambient atmospheres. For additional information, please visit www.harperintl.com or email [email protected].