Noranda Minerals spins off advanced materials company

A new business unit known as Noranda Advanced Materials has been opened in Ville Saint-Laurent, Que.

The company is an offshoot of Noranda Minerals, itself a subsidiary of Noranda (TSE). It will produce ultra-pure materials from metals processed by other companies in the Noranda Minerals group. These ultra-pure metals — tellurium, selenium, cadmium and zinc — are used in infrared detectors, photoelectric cells, alkaline batteries and digital X-ray technology. Rod Leroy, president of Noranda Advance Materials, says the new company represents an investment of about $10 million. It is the result of 10 years of research at the Noranda Technology Centre in Pointe-Claire, Que. Employed will be 15 highly specialized people. Annual sales are projected to be more than $10 million.