Expansion to bring increased production capacity and new capabilities
- By Abby Gessner -
The world’s leading producer of tantalum surface alloys for valves, fittings, instrumentation, and custom products in hot acid environments, today announced the opening of its new production facility. Located on the Danfoss campus in Norborg, Denmark, the expansion marks the Company’s second production facility.
Tantaline’s products have been used in several applications. One example involves the sulfur iodine thermochemcial hydrogen process, which is driven by General Atomics as part of a demonstration to supply hydrogen for a hydrogen-based economy. This particular process involves water-splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen, creating no emissions and 55% efficiency. Future success for the project will be determined by effective use of a heat source, such as nuclear energy, in order to minimize pollution and cement it as a viable energy solution.
One of the challenges faced in the current process was corrosion due to corrosive chemicals at high pressures and temperatures. Tantaline’s tantalum surface alloy was the only material that could effectively resist the process’ corrosion. The use of the technology enabled General Atomics to continue the project, with nuclear energy likely being the heat source needed to drive it.
“Through our tantalum vapor technology, Tantaline produces the most corrosion resistant material commercially available, enabling it to handle a wide range of corrosion solutions, temperatures, and pressure. This makes it an ideal material solution for energy projects that face future corrosion challenges, including the next generation of nuclear reactors as well as chemical processes that require nuclear source energy to minimize pollution and emissions,” CEO Americas for Tantaline Dean Gambale told Nuclear Street.
The new facility will produce Tantaline’s corrosion resistant line of products through its innovative tantalum vapor technology. The technology involves heating and reacting pure tantalum metal to produce a gaseous atmosphere of tantalum. The tantalum vapor forms an alloy bond on any standard steel part, resulting in the most corrosion resistant material commercially available ― that is also priced competitively to nickel alloys. Tantaline’s products are specifically designed for businesses and engineers that work with hot acids and/or use nickel alloys, titanium, or zirconium metals and require superior corrosion performance.
“Our new facility helps position Tantaline for strong growth in the years ahead. With world-class equipment and additional staff, we can now increase our production capacity while maintaining our industry-leading turnaround times for our customers,” said Dean Gambale, CEO, Americas for Tantaline. “By expanding the capabilities of our process, we are also able to pursue new markets with our tantalum vapor technology.”
At 5,300 square feet including a state-of-the-art reactor system, Tantaline’s new production facility increases the company’s capacity significantly. Additionally, Tantaline has secured a staff of five employees to manage operations at the new building.
Tantaline Inc. is the world’s leading producer of tantalum surface alloys for valves, fittings, instrumentation, and custom products in hot acid environments. Through its innovative tantalum vapor technology, Tantaline delivers the most corrosion resistant material that is commercially available today. With superior corrosion performance and affordability compared to nickel alloys, titanium, and zirconium metals, Tantaline helps businesses, ranging from global manufacturers to laboratories, reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve safety. A private corporation, Tantaline’s industry expertise includes chemical processing, mining, oil and gas, energy, and pharmaceuticals.