RENO, Nev., April 8 -- Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., a Reno, Nev., maker of ceramic nanomaterial products, and Bateman Engineering BV, of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, have announced a joint venture, Altairnano-Bateman Titania Inc. The new company will be based in Nevada and will combine Altair's titanium dioxide pigment manufacturing process and Bateman's engineering expertise to make pigment products and services.
Gotcher said the joint venture is part of Altair's strategy to license its AHPP (Altair hydrochloride pigment process) technology for the manufacturing of titanium dioxide pigment in return for a royalty on product sales. Titanium dioxide is a white pigment widely used to impart color and opacity to coatings, plastics, ceramics, inks, and fibers. This is accomplished either as part of a surface coating, such as in paints, or by incorporation into the materials such as in plastics or fibers. Altair said companies such as Western Oil Sands are using its process on a feasibility basis to extract heavy minerals from oil sands in Alberta, Canada, and to produce titanium dioxide pigment.
Altair CEO Alan J. Gotcher said, "We are now in comprehensive discussions with prospective customers located in Africa, the Pacific Rim and North America. They are demanding a complete service from raw material qualification through plant design, construction and commissioning. Altair and Bateman have teamed together to meet these requirements."
The new company will deliver services including feasibility work, design, construction, commissioning and potentially the operation of mineral processing or pigment manufacturing plants. Altairnano-Bateman Titania will be jointly managed, with a board of directors comprising members from each company. It will be funded entirely by Altair and Bateman; each will have equal shares and votes.
For more information, visit: www.altairnano.com