 | | | December 23, 2008
North American Tungsten Finalizes Joint Venture to Produce Tungsten Composites
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| | North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. ("NTC", "the Company") has concluded a series of strategic agreements to produce and market commercial tungsten products manufactured from its tungsten concentrate at its mining operations. The transactions are a result of three years of North American Tungsten's involvement with Tundra Particle Technologies ("TPT") at a pilot plant in Minnesota that has developed and tested patented techniques to produce tungsten powders and intermediates from low grade concentrates.
In addition, TPT's sister company, Tundra Composites ("TC") has developed a patented process for manufacturing tungsten composites for sale worldwide. Based on the Company's involvement with TPT, NTC has been granted access to this process through a licensing agreement with TC.
As North American Tungsten's Chairman and CEO, Stephen Leahy noted, "The success of our involvement with TPT has enabled us to move our output up the value chain, broadening our company from a producer of tungsten concentrate into a supplier of valued-added products intended for a 21st Century marketplace. The TPT patented conversion process can utilize a much lower grade of tungsten concentrate than today's other tungsten processors require. North American Tungsten will have a significant outlet for lower grade concentrate.
"This whole concept of our involvement in new material processing options and participation in this new high tech tungsten composite business has been a long time in coming. The ability of the Company to provide low grade flotation concentrate at market pricing will not only position NTC at the forefront of new markets for tungsten, but will also provide new outlets for our low grade tungsten concentrate production well into the future."
Under the recent development agreements, a new company, Tundra Diversified Industries LLC ("TDI") has been formed. This new company will consist of three Strategic partners; Tundra Particle Technologies, LLC, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, will match North American Tungsten's own 43.2% interest; and Queenwood Capital Partners LLC, of Bloomington, Minnesota will own 13.6%. Each of the shareholders will be represented on TDI's board of governors, and each brings a particular interest to TDI that will be important to its success.
In addition, TDI is in the process of entering into a supply agreement with Fiocchi Ammunition to sell TUNDRATM tungsten-polymer composite. TDI and Fiocchi intend to initiate the manufacture and sale of TUNDRATM tungsten-polymer composites into the ballistics marketplace in the 1st quarter of 2009. This composite material will allow for immediate access to the exciting new lead replacement market with a material that is non-toxic, has the malleability of lead, and can be manufactured to a density that exceeds that of lead and bismuth.
As Mr. Leahy stated, "This is a historic launch of a revolutionary material that I believe will soon become the fastest growing segment of the tungsten market and will complete our objective of becoming a vertically integrated tungsten producer."
And Mr. Heikkila added: " This venture will provide an integrated approach to the ballistics industry of a secure supply of tungsten, custom and proprietary powders and unique composite products for superior products which are environmentally friendly ".
- Part of the TUNDRATM group of Minnesota-based companies, Tundra Particle Technologies is engaged in the production, sale and licensing of highly filled composites for various industries and applications. TUNDRATM has granted Tungsten Diversified an exclusive license to manufacture and sell the patented TUNDRATM tungsten-polymer composite as a lead replacement alternative for ammunition. This license allows TDI to sell TUNDRATM composite to the military in North America and the European Union, as well as the sporting market in the European Union. Tundra Particle Technologies will be represented on TDI's board by its principal Kurt Heikkila.
- Queenwood Capital is a private investment firm located in Bloomington, Minnesota. Its chairman, Ronald Erickson, recently joined North American Tungsten's board of directors and will also represent Queenwood on TDI's board. Among his business activities, Mr. Erickson is vice chairman of the board of Gander Mountain, a chain of 115 sporting goods stores in the United States which has been marketing tungsten products as lead replacements in a number of consumer products, especially to hunters and sports fishermen. Queenwood has invested US$2.5 million to purchase its interest in TDI.
- North American Tungsten is the Western World's largest producer of tungsten concentrate, a strategic industrial metal required in a wide variety of products ranging from jet turbine engines and high-speed cutting tools to electronic circuitry and surgical instruments. The company will provide TDI with access to tungsten material at market driven prices for its future processing and manufacturing needs. Under a five-year supply agreement, renewable for an additional five years, North American Tungsten will initially supply 22,500 metric tonne units (MTU's) of tungsten concentrates, increasing the annual supply to 225,000 MTU's by 2013. The supply agreement with TDI complements others that North American Tungsten has concluded, including a recent, 125,000 MTU deal with Global Tungsten and Powders Corp. Stephen Leahy will represent North American Tungsten on the TDI board.
ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN TUNGSTEN CORPORATION LTD
The Company is a publicly listed Tier 1 Junior Resource Company engaged primarily in the operation, development, and acquisition of tungsten and other related mineral properties in Canada. The Company's 100% owned Cantung mine and Mactung development project make it one of the few tungsten producers with a strategic asset in the western world. Mactung is one of the world's largest known undeveloped high grade tungsten-skarn deposits.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stephen M. Leahy
Chairman & CEO
The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
INVESTOR CONTACT:
Toni Williamson, info@natungsten.com
Vancouver Office: +1.604.684.5300
Fax: +1.604.684.2992
Toronto Office: +1.416.602.2665 |
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| | You can view the Next News Releases item: Thu Jan 29, 2009, North American Tungsten Corporation Ltd. Releases Annual Financial Results For September 30, 2008 And Updated Reserves For Cantung
You can view the Previous News Releases item: Thu Nov 20, 2008, North American Tungsten Announces Mr. Ronald Erickson Has Joined The Board Of Directors
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