To build tungsten recycling system, challenge ~ subject to be solved: to stabilize supply

Japan imports most of the energy resources and mineral resources.Rare metal headed by tungsten mines nowhere to be found in Japan.As a result, the energy resources, to ensure a steady supply of mineral resources is one of the most important subject at the national level.In this context, the Japanese economy, trade and industry in 2006 developed a "new national energy strategy.The strategy referred to the strengthening and metallic mineral resources recycling.2008 "resources to ensure that the policy", points out that the important resources, including rare metal, access to provide support.The following year and released the rare metal to ensure strategy.In 2012, and neodymium and dysprosium cobalt, tantalum, and tungsten these five minerals selected for recycling key minerals.So that to ensure the rare metal has become the national level, and continues today.
So why is rare metal so important?Although the dosage is less, but they are manufacturing LCD TV, mobile phone and automotive products such as material, the necessary for maintaining and strengthening international competitiveness of Japanese manufacturing point of view, are indispensable.Especially from the perspective of building a low-carbon society, a new generation of cars, motors and batteries and other industries to give hope to the popularization of rare metal, predictable in these areas, rare metal global demand will continue to expand.From "made of tungsten hard alloy" and "all made of tungsten products", the ratio of the world average of about 61%, compared with about 76% in Japan.Hard alloy is to point to, the tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt (Co) mixture made of high hardness, high wear resistance and high heat resistance of the alloy.Made of hard alloy inlay loaded blade (blade) of cutting tools and cutting tools such as drill can realize high speed machining, reform and innovation for manufacturing site.In Japan, sumitomo electric group is one of its LingJunXing enterprise.Among various kinds of manufacturing, the existence of superhard tools are essential, says the lifeline of mastering the manufacturing too much.And manufacturing superhard tools necessary materials, tungsten.

* source: ITIA (International Tungsten Industry Association), the statistical report 2013

Japan will "ensure that rare metal" positioning for national level project, the background is that rare metal changes in the environment.And a half since the 20th century, the rise of emerging economies, led by China, and rapid development, great changes have taken place in the world economy mechanism.As the global production and consumption activities and rare metal consumption expands faster, producer part proposed the radical point of view, namely its resources should be developed by their own management and resource nationalism ".Tungsten is also in the same situation.China's tungsten production accounted for more than 80% of the world, has long been Japan imports from China a large amount of tungsten, but now China is the selection of the tungsten minerals for export control.And outside of China to Vietnam and Russia and other countries to produce a small amount of tungsten.In addition, there is a hard truth, that is tungsten resources in the near future will dry up.

In this context, sumitomo electric group started dedicated to the recovery of tungsten.This is a challenging attempt, by recycling to get rid of the dependence on imported tungsten and stable supply.Advanced materials cause the department sales department is responsible for preparing the headed by tungsten cutting tools with metal material.Minister, has good filling is one of the team members to promote recycling tungsten business.

Hard alloy scraps are divided into two categories: solid hard scraps and powdered soft chip.The former is derived from the use of tools or defective chip, drill chip and the chip of mould, etc., which is the hard alloy material producers or superhard tools manufacturers in the grind cutting or grinding process of powdered slag, etc.Construction of recycling system, the chip sorting recycling is a very important process.The group from the 80 s began to implement the recycling, at the same time also started recycling scraps.The group's customers to use superhard tools loan "recycling box", and regularly recycling for sorting has superhard tools in the box.For other companies' products, we also undertake recycling business or recycle in express way.Recycled hard alloy scraps were concentrated to IGETALLOY chip center after sorting.Net sales of superhard tools sumitomo electric Tool co., LTD is in charge of this series of recovery operation.The company's environment and resources in the end, in the sales department department minister really involved in the recovery operation from the beginning.