New Technology gives tin industry fresh lease of life
By Hanim Adnan
- StarBiz, The Star 13th May, 2003

Labelled as a sunset industry 10 years ago, the tin sector is being given a new lease of life by Britain based Tin Technology Ltd. which aims to fully commercialise the use of the metal for both producers and consumers as increasing environmental concerns drive a transition to lead-free processes in various industrial applications worldwide.

Tin Technology is a sister company of ITRI Ltd, formerly known as the International Tin Research Institute which was previously heavily funded by Malaysia's tin industry.

Dubbed as a new force in the industry, Tin Technology would play a significant role in linking producers and consumers of tin, providing the focal point for a large network of industry contacts, said Managing Director David Bishop.

Tin Technology currently has a global membership of 100 companies and is funded by tin producers and smelters in Australia, Belgium, Indonesia, Peru, Thailand and Malaysia. Among the big names involved are Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd, PT Koba Tin, Sons of Gwalia Ltd, Thailand Smelting and Refining, Metallo-Chimique International NV and Minsur SA.

"We plan on increasing our efforts to work with governments and research centres in Asia, particularly as the region is an important producer and also a growing consumer of tin," Bishop told reporters after giving a talk on Tin Technology Ð A New Innovative Force Tin Industry in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The ultimate aim, he said, was to revive the demand for tin with strong back-up in research and development (R&D) and bring about stable, healthy prices for the metal. In Asia, Tin Technology has so far signed working agreements with China and Indonesia on various tin-related projects. And today will see it signing a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysian Tin Industry (R&D) Board and Universiti Sains Malaysia on selected tin research projects.

At the same time, Bishop said, Tin Technology was intensifying its development effort in core areas of tin consumption such as lead-free soldering and fire-retardant chemicals.

Another new development for tin usage is in the automotive and ammunition sectors where tin based materials are under active consideration as a replacement for lead, according to Bishop.

He pointed out that tin-based materials had already found a niche in the ammunition market for both bullets and shot cartridges with other non-toxic alternatives.

"The non-toxic ammunition market will undoubtedly grow, as the pressure for more widespread legislation (on lead-free processes) intensifies in both Europe and the United States," Bishop added. Another important area for tin usage is the automotive sector. Bishop said European End of Life Vehicle Directive passed by the European Parliament in September 2000 was expected to be put into effect within 18 months of that date by member states.

The directive includes a ban on lead wheel-balance weights on passenger vehicles, covering both new and replacement parts.

Meanwhile, Tin Industry (R&D) Board chairman Datuk Mohd Ajib Anuar foresees a strong revival in the local mining industry where most of the mines are located in Perak.

Malaysia currently produces only 5000 tonnes of tin a year, which cater to less than 5% of global consumption.

The largest producer is China, which is expected to produce about 90,000 tonnes of tin this year, followed by Indonesia with 65,000 tonnes and Peru with about 35,000 tonnes. Annual global tin consumption is estimated at 270,000 tonnes. On the price of tin, Ajib said the cash tin price was currently around US$4,700 per tonne, up from last year's historical low of US$3,700.