INDUSTRY NEWS Research Firm Says Supply Shortage of Zircon Will Continue


Consumption of zircon, a sand used in some specialty metalcasting applications, rebounded in 2010 and is projected to grow 5.4% annually in the near future, driving material prices higher, according to metals and miner- als research firm Roskill Information Services, London. Use of zircon sand in metalcast- ing applications has not grown over the past decade, according to Roskill, but growth in other markets has pushed the demand, affecting metalcasters. Consumption of zircon reached


1.33 million tons in 2010 following an 18% fall in 2009 due to the glob- al economic downturn. Growth over the last decade has come mainly from the ceramics and chemical sec- tors, growing by 4.1% per year and 7.5% per year, compared to overall market growth of 2.6% annually. China now accounts for over half of total consumption, with the wider Asian region accounting for two- thirds of consumption. Roskill said capacity for zircon


production might rise by only 2.3% per year through 2015, as only a few new projects are scheduled to be commissioned. Zircon is produced predominately in Australia (40% of output in 2010), South Africa (29%) and the U.S. (8%). Output is controlled by four major produc-


CORRECTION In the June Industry News section,


it was reported that Willman Indus- tries, Cedar Grove, Wis., employs 100 and casts parts from 500 lbs. to 20 tons. Te company employs 165 and makes castings from ounces to 20 tons.


QUALITY CERTIFICATIONS Te following metalcasting


organizations have passed a recent certification audit: Willman Industries, Cedar Grove,


Wis. (ISO 9001:2008). July 2011 MODERN CASTING | 11


ers—Iluka Resources, Richards Bay Minerals, Exxaro Resources and DuPont together accounted for two- thirds of capacity in 2010. Roskill reports that continued


price increases for zircon should be unsustainable, and reduction of zir-


con use or substitution may reduce demand. Higher prices are expected to prompt increased interest in new sources of supply.


For more information on the available metalcast- ing sand supply, see “Sand Shortage: Myth or Reality?” on p. 28.


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