Bussines Plans

Today we are going to discuss Indium. This rare industrial metal has grown in importance in the last few years. The uses of Indium increase every day. You find Indium in CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells, LCDs, touchscreens, cell phones, iPhones, semi-conductors, computers, touch screens, and photovoltaics. As you can see the uses of this metal are vital to our world economy. Can you imagine not being able to have touch screens on your iPad, an Android Mobile phone or your big screen LCD television? Indium also makes CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells more efficient in energy production.

Many of the metals that are needed for items such as solar panels, super-conductors and jet engines are produced as by-products of lead, zinc, copper, manganese or aluminium mining. There is no chance of increasing production of indium, gallium, germanium, rhenium, thorium and tellurium from primary mines. Chinese demand is growing and, there are supply constraints. New mines cannot be brought on stream at the flick of a switch.

We will have a supply problem with indium in the mid-term future if we continue consuming it at the current rate without recycling. For example, The Korea Times recently reported that their Ministry of Knowledge and Finance is slated to add Indium to its critical substances list in June 2011, since the nation’s heavy hitters, like Samsung and LG, are dangerously dependent of the element. According to, ¨New Scientist¨, the known reserves of Indium are 16,000 tons with worldwide annual production of 600 tons. As you can see within two decades the reserves will be depleted. According to Jack Lifton of Tech Metal Research, Indium will have critical supply issues in the next 0-5 years. Which will ease a bit in the 5-15 year range.

China now has control over 97% percent of the supply of Rare Industrial Metals or Technical Metals. The USA currently imports 100% of its Indium from China, Japan and Canada. Europe imports 95% of its Indium from China, Japan and Canada. Indium values range from $1-$5 per gram. Where will the price be in the coming years? Last year China decided to cut back on its exports of Rare Industrial Metals including Indium. America’s Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that it could take up to 15 years for the West to catch up with China and develop alternative supplies. If we base the future price on the basic Supply and Demand curve, I believe we will see very expensive Indium in the near future.

When you walk into the local coffee shop in suburban Detroit, you will notice a cool metal sign hanging up in the window, it incorporates the company’s logo and craft in a striking and unique way. The owner says it has become quite the topic of conversation in the past few months since he put it up. The clean lines of the metal fabrication are impressive and simple. The logo of a cup with steam hovering over top makes for a hip modern spin on your standard morning beverage container.

A few thousand miles away, a huge processing tank is being installed in a factory down south. This particular tank is being built to clean ground water contaminated with benzene and other chemicals in an old industrial park. This tank will have to perform for years without interruption in order to keep the local community’s water supply safe. It’s a pretty tall order, but the custom finish on the processing tank is key to the success of the project. It’s imperative to finish the tank with the right coatings so it will work for generations to come.

Any time metal is manipulated from one state into another, it is considered to be metal fabrication. It takes skill and education to be able to create these one of a kind custom metal products for various marketplaces. Many companies offer some types of custom metal fabrication, but few can meet the needs of so many varying marketplaces.

Government and military markets have a huge need for custom metal products. Recently, the Department of Natural Recourses (DNR) for the State of Michigan had an unusual need. The DNR needed a 1200-gallon fish tank on wheels for their “Fish for a Future” Program. Since, it is close to impossible to go to your local car or truck dealership and ask for a fish tank, the DNR had to find a company that could handle creating a custom metal fish tank. After some extensive research, the DNR was able to find an excellent company, a great price and the finished product exceeded expectations, now the fish tank on wheels can be seen all over the state.

In order to create these projects, it takes skilled engineers, welders and assemblers. It’s important before you set out to create your custom metal fabricated product that you do your research, there are a lot of things to consider. The biggest consideration may be what alloys you are working with. A36 to A588 carbon steel; 304, 308, 309, 409 and many other grades of stainless steel; aluminum, copper, tribraze, manganese are just some of the alloys that are common in metal fabrication. Be sure the company you are working with is experienced in working on all types of alloys. Don’t forget about location either. A local company is always great, but a company farther from home, may have better value and quality. Do your research; many companies ship their products all over the world.

For a company that is experienced in custom metal fabrication and ships to over 15 countries around the world, look into Cadillac Fabrication at http://www.cadfab.com.

By Dustin Bosscher