Industry Consortium with Aston-Martin, Sarginsons, Boeing UK, NioCorp and Others Wins UK Government Funding

In This Article:

R&D Effort Aims to Develop Digitally Optimized Cast Automotive Parts Made With 
Recycled Aluminum Strengthened by Scandium

Scandium Enables the Use of Recycled Aluminum With No Loss of Mechanical Properties

Recycled Aluminum Has a Carbon Intensity that is 94% Lower than Primary Aluminum1

 

CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESSWIRE / October 29, 2024 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:NB) is pleased to announce that an industry consortium in which it is working with automakers, manufacturers, and supply chain leaders has been awarded funding by the UK Government to support an US$8 million program to design lightweight aluminum alloys and cast automotive components made of recycled aluminum strengthened by scandium, which NioCorp intends to produce at its Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project in Nebraska.

The collaborative, known as Project PIVOT ("Performance Integrated Vehicle Optimization Technology"), includes such companies as Aston Martin, Sarginsons, Altair, GESCRAP, and Brunel University London. The Project's Steering Committee includes Jaguar Land Rover, Boeing UK, Alcon Industries, Linamar, Shell Re-Charge, and others.

The UK government funding, which totals approximately US$3.8 million and will be supplemented by funds from project participants, was awarded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) following a competitive process. Project PIVOT is led by Coventry, UK-based aluminum foundry and engineering company Sarginsons and seeks to revolutionize the global casting industry through overhauling the design, weight, carbon intensity and production of cast aluminum, with a target of 100% recycled content.

Roberto Fedeli, Group Chief Technology Officer of Aston Martin, said: "The award of funding from the APC is a major boost to Project PIVOT, which seeks to leverage advanced metal solidification and digital-twin simulations to manufacture low-carbon alloys which will ultimately uplift the level of recycled content we feature in Aston Martin models. We look forward to progressing this project collaboratively with Sarginsons and our other research partners. We thank the APC for their incredible support, following on from their backing of our electrification programme last year."

NioCorp's Role in Project Pivot
NioCorp is working closely with the collaborative and will, among other things, be providing aluminum-scandium master alloy for the group's research and prototype parts development efforts.

In response to the UK funding announcement, Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp, said: "NioCorp is proud to be a supporting member of Project Pivot and to be working with Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, Sarginsons, and other automotive industry leaders in this revolutionary effort to design lightweight cast automotive components that unlock the value of scandium by enabling greater use of lower-cost recycled aluminum in these platforms."