MTM Critical Metals Limited ("MTM" or the "Company") (ASX: MTM) is pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with Indium Corporation ("Indium"), one of the Western world's leading suppliers of refined gallium, germanium, indium, and other specialty technology metals.
This collaboration aims to create a U.S.-based processing solution using MTM's innovative Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology to recover high-value metals - including gallium, germanium, indium, and tin - from various scrap sources. By establishing an onshore processing capability, the partnership addresses strategic vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain, reducing reliance on imports from China which currently dominates global supply and processing of these metals and has previously curtailed supply by restricting exports of refined metals.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), MTM will process scrap materials rich in Ga, Ge, In, and Sn provided by Indium Corporation, with a focus on developing advanced recovery methods using the Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology. This initiative aligns with U.S. efforts to establish a secure domestic supply of critical materials. Testing on Indium-supplied feedstocks is already underway at MTM's Texas-based laboratory.
Indium's Global Business Unit Manager Markus Roas commented: "This partnership with MTM aligns with our commitment to enhancing U.S.-based supply chains for critical metals essential to modern technologies. FJH technology offers a novel and sustainable solution to recover these vital elements from waste materials, ensuring reliable access without relying on external sources. We are excited to support this collaboration in addressing the strategic needs of our country. At Indium, we believe that secondary raw materials and urban mining will become key pillars for the future, and we are excited to support this collaboration in addressing the strategic needs of our industry."
MTM's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Walshe, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Indium, a global leader in critical technology metals, to secure a U.S.-based supply of metals essential to the defence, semiconductor, and high-tech industries. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for our company, providing strong external validation of our technology. Together, we are tackling supply chain vulnerabilities with an innovative approach to efficiently recover critical metals domestically, advancing U.S. efforts towards critical metal independence.
