Pure silicon dioxide for liquid crystal display glass substrate

New Materials Asia, Oct, 2007

Sumitomo Corp and KCM Corp of Japan, and Cominex Pty Ltd of Australia have jointly established Tasmanian Advanced Minerals Pty Ltd, Australia. The new company will focus on the production of pure silicon dioxide (silica; SiO2) for use in glass substrates of liquid crystal display (LCD) panels.

The joint venture's head office is located in Sydney, while the factory and mine are located in Tasmania.

Sumitomo and KCM have sold pure silica produced in Tasmania since the 1980s. However, now they have decided to purchase the ownership of mining property of raw silica sand from a mining company and build a grinding factory for the stable supply of pure silica. Sumitomo, KCM and Cominex hold 80%, 10% and 10%, respectively, of the new venture's shares.

The state of Tasmania is located in the ocean to the southeast of Australia and consists of the island of Tasmania and surrounding islands.

For further information, contact: Sumitomo Corp, Harumi Island Triton Square Office Tower Y, 8-11 Harumi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8610, Japan; tel: 3-5166-5000; Internet: www.sumitomocorp.co.jp; or: KCM Corp, 2-41 Tsukisan-cho, Minato-ku, Nagoya, Japan; tel: 5-2661-3180, Internet: www.kyoritsu-kcm.co.jp; or: Cominex Pty Ltd, 71 Carlton Beach Road, Dodges Ferry, Tasmania, Australia.