Zochem invests in new furnace, ups zinc oxide capacity by 15,000 metric tons

DICKSON, Tenn.—With an eye toward sustainability, Zochem L.L.C. is installing a new low-carbon, high-output muffle furnace for increased zinc oxide production at its U.S. facility.

Zochem, based in Tennessee with a second location in Brampton, Ontario, serves the tire, rubber, chemical, electronics, agricultural, plastics, pharmaceutical and ceramics markets, among others.

According to Zochem, the new furnace, set to be operational by the second quarter of 2023, will add 15,000 metric tons of French process zinc oxide capacity to the Dickson plant, addressing expected increases in demand in the battery storage market, along with continued growth in durable products found in the agriculture, automotive and specialty chemical sectors.

"Zochem's approach is to continually focus on the greater good of all stakeholders, particularly our dedicated employees and customers," said Zochem President and CEO Mohit Sharma. "We consider ourselves to be neighbors within both the Dickson, Tenn., and Brampton, Ontario, communities. Investments, such as the Dickson expansion, will strengthen that bond.

"We are committed to sustainability through expanding the use of reusable and recycled products and to the global message of reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

As the newest zinc oxide plant in the U.S. by 20 years, Zochem Tennessee has become well-versed in the operation of muffled furnaces, which use "conductive refractory and low nitrous oxide natural gas burners to create a uniform temperature profile over a large molten metal bath."

With the Tennessee capacity expansion, Zochem will look to add different grades of zinc oxide and zinc sulfate to its portfolio, particularly in the agriculture space, where different forms of both compounds are used in animal feed and fertilizer.

Zochem will work with the raw material Waelz oxide (recovered furnace dust, which is then enriched in zinc oxide, produced when recycling galvanized steel) to introduce products to the agricultural market.

"Zochem's core strength has always been providing zinc-centric solutions for our customers," Sharma said. "We see this project as a great opportunity to apply our business and technical knowledge while catering to both existing and new customers in markets that have often been primarily served by product variants of French process zinc oxide and other zinc compounds.

"Supporting the supply chain of these compounds is critical to sustaining a growing global population, which will require crop yields from each acre of arable land to be maximized."

The zinc industry comprises a complex web of production, processing and end-use manufacturing, and as such Zochem said it will look to balance a downward trend in the tire industry with upticks in agriculture, packaging and medical markets.

While about 40 percent of the total zinc oxide market (from all producers of zinc oxide) in North America goes toward the rubber tire industry, the compound also can be found in dental care, sunscreens, fertilizers, livestock feeds, over-the-counter flu remedies, vitamins, tile glazes, paints, food additives and even electronics.

Most of Zochem's zinc is mined in Russia, South America and Australia, the company told Rubber News last year.