TIMCAL Acquires Natural Graphite Processor

TIMCAL, the Bodio, Switzerland, Graphite & Carbon business unit of Imerys, has completed the acquisition of 85% of the shares of the natural graphite processor Baotou Jing Yuan Graphite Co. Ltd. This company, with its processing plant located in Baotou in Inner Mongolia, China, produces high purity and high performance natural graphite products mainly used in the mobile energy and engineering applications. It currently employs 140 people. Prior to the closing, Baotou Jing Yuan was a privately-owned company whose operations started in 1990. It was converted into Foreign Invested Enterprise Joint Venture in which Timcal holds an 85% participation while eight Chinese individuals hold the remaining 15%. Upon its conversion, it was renamed Timcal Jing Yuan Graphite (Baotou) Co. Ltd. In other news, TIMCAL Graphite & Carbon has adjusted its prices for synthetic graphite, cokes and lubricants produced in Bodio; Changzhou, China; and Fuji, Japan. The 5% to 15% increase that became effective January 2 depends upon grades and market areas. “Although we have aggressively organized our business during the past year and are continuously optimizing our manufacturing process to improve our competitiveness and absorb operating cost increases, this price adjustment to our TIMREX® and ROLLIT® grades is unavoidable,” says Fabrizio Corti, vice president sales and marketing of TIMCAL.