China’s development of the corrosion-resistant metal tantalum commonly used in electronics has developed rapidly in recent years, owing to local manufacturers’ commitment to research and development efforts, the China Science Daily reports, with one factory having become particularly successful.
While over 40 Chinese manufacturers are currently in the business of chemical materials and knowhow for tantalum’s applications in electronic devices such as mobile phones,c, the report said.
Ningxia Orient Group Limit Co is a subsidiary of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Co, which is under the direct administration of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. The company, which is mainly engaged in the research, development and production of tantalum and related hi-tech products, exports 90% of its output to the United States, Japan, South Korea and countries in Europe.
“We are the ‘national team.’ We are the domestic industry leader and cannot be outshone by other countries,” said company chairman He Jilin.
Starting with a small factory, He visited industry pioneers in other countries during the 1990s, introducing his company’s capabilities as well as starting his own research for developing high-quality tantalum. China needs to depend on itself for developing tantalum, he said.
Today, the company is seen as competitive as its American and Russian counterparts in the tantalum industry, the report noted.
