Do you know about the upgraded fiberglass skids?
On August 21st, at a professional conference in Changzhou, Krastsvetmet presented the first results of industrial trials of its upgraded fiberglass bushings at China's largest fiberglass manufacturing plant.
Developed jointly by Krastsvetmet experts and the Nornico Palladium Technology Center, the product has the potential to significantly reduce costs in this multi-billion dollar industry.
A new current lead, a key component of fiberglass bushings, can significantly reduce the cost of ownership for fiberglass manufacturers. This solution is unique in that it uses palladium, a more economical metal, instead of platinum. This metal's lower price and reduced density significantly reduce the unit cost of the material.
A batch of fiberglass bushings using palladium current leads has been undergoing industrial testing in China for over two months. No deviations or differences in performance compared to platinum have been observed. This successful testing suggests the metal may be used more widely. Plans are underway to co-manufacture fiberglass bushings using palladium and platinum, and to test them throughout the bushing production process. This will revolutionize cost optimization in fiberglass production.
Fiberglass is a versatile composite material used in automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, sports equipment, medical devices, and the green energy industry.
"Showcasing these achievements in China is an important step for our project. The region is home to the world's largest fiberglass producers. We not only offer an alternative material but also open up a path for market participants to optimize costs. This freed-up resources can be used for further innovation and development," commented Nonico.
The global fiberglass production industry demands 700,000 ounces of platinum annually. In China alone, 3.5 million ounces of platinum are used during the equipment lifecycle. Experts believe that up to half of this could be replaced with palladium.
"While industrial testing of the current lead continues, we are simultaneously conducting in-depth laboratory research. Recent results indicate that palladium alloys have slightly lower wettability than platinum. This means that manufacturing the entire device using the new alloy is a viable solution. The Chinese market is a growth driver for our industry. Our joint project offers manufacturers a real competitive advantage and significant economic benefits," said Alexey Korniyenko, Development Director at Krastsvetmet.
The average lifespan of the platinum device is one year. Testing of the fiberglass breakout board using palladium current leads at the production site will continue until failure. Successful test results will advance product development into the commercialization phase.
