Two foreign companies launched new palladium reinforced leak plate technology in China: leading the innovation and breakthrough of fiberglass industry?
Russian companies Nonik and Krastsvetmet have launched a groundbreaking palladium-reinforced bushing designed specifically for the fiberglass industry in a groundbreaking collaboration. The China Precious Metals Committee of the China Material Recycling Association (CPMIC) organized the "Bushing Material Innovation Seminar" in Shanghai, which was attended by China's leading industry elites, including representatives of the China Fiberglass Industry Association (CFIA), to discuss the potential for large-scale adoption and implementation of this innovative technology in China's rapidly growing fiberglass industry.
Fiberglass is an important material in the construction industry and high-tech fields, including electronics and renewable energy. The fiberglass production process involves extreme conditions, and the molten glass needs to pass through the bushing. Traditionally, bushings are made of platinum and rhodium alloys, known for their durability in harsh conditions. However, the new technology using palladium opens up new possibilities for manufacturers, providing a cost-effective and sustainable solution.
Palladium has half the density of platinum, which means that palladium bushings are the same size as platinum bushings, but only half the weight. For manufacturers, this means lower material costs and reduced operating expenses. In addition, palladium bushings are as suitable for refining as platinum or platinum-rhodium alloys.
Currently, the global demand for platinum in fiberglass production is 700,000 ounces per year, mainly for expanding capacity and compensating for losses during the refining process. However, the actual amount of platinum circulating during the life cycle of the bushing (production, refining, replenishment and reprocessing) is much higher. In China alone, the circulation is more than 3.5 million ounces.
Experts predict that up to 50% of the platinum circulation can be replaced by palladium, which will not only reduce material costs (due to palladium's density being 2 times lower than platinum and platinum prices expected to rise faster than palladium), but also make the production process more economical and efficient. This provides new opportunities for Chinese manufacturers to reduce production costs while increasing their competitiveness in the global market.
"The introduction of palladium-based bushings is an important step in the development of glass fiber technology in China," said Anna Karzhavina, head of the commercialization department of new products at the Nonico Palladium Center. "In a market where cost reduction and efficiency are key, we believe that our technology will significantly reduce the cost of glass fiber production while freeing up new resources for innovation and growth."
As a global leader in fiberglass production, China is a major market for the implementation of this technology. By adopting palladium in composites, Chinese companies have saved a lot of money, freed up funds for reinvestment and reduced overall production costs.
"The Chinese market is crucial for the development of fiberglass technology." Alexey Korniyenko, Development Director of Krastsvetmet, said, "Our joint project with Nonic aims to reduce costs while improving product competitiveness. We have successfully reduced the amount of rhodium in the bushings in cooperation with major companies in the industry, and we believe that gradually replacing platinum with palladium will also bring similar economic benefits and production efficiency."
As part of the joint project, Nonic and Krastsvetmet have successfully completed trials of palladium-reinforced bushings in Russia. These bushings, which are specially customized for the Chinese market, are expected to start mass production in the second half of 2025.
The introduction of palladium-reinforced bushings in the Chinese market is not only a technological upgrade, but also a strategic decision to reduce material costs and improve operational efficiency.
