Stratmin plant at full throttle

Full production at the St-Aime-du-Lac-des-Iles graphite concentrator north of Montreal will resume Nov. 25 after having been operated on a part-time basis since April, Stratmin Graphite, a 75% owned subsidiary of Stratmin (ME), reports.

In part, the decision stems from a considerable reduction of inventories, the company says. Originally designed to process 900 tons of material per day, the facility often treats more than 1,100 tons, Stratmin says. The plant has the capacity to produce 20,000 tons concentrate per year. Stratmin says it exports to 14 countries and has captured 50% of the U.S. market. The sales figures for 1992 should reach 17,500 tons concentrate, it says, with 13,500 tons guaranteed by contractual agreements.