Harper International, a provider of thermal processing solutions for advanced materials, has entered an equipment supply agreement with Westwater Resources, Inc. (Westwater) to produce custom-engineered systems for thermal purification of natural graphite. These furnace systems are a part of Westwater’s Phase 1 facility investment and will be installed at the Coosa Graphite Production facility located in Alabama. The supply contract includes manufacture, installation and start-up services for Harper’s rotary and vertical furnace technologies. The Harper systems will be capable of processing 7,500 metric tons of natural graphite per year for Westwater’s Phase 1 Facility by 2023.

This agreement continues Westwater’s cooperation with Harper after a successful Definitive Feasibility Study in 2021, whereby Harper provided engineering, and equipment design and development. WestwaterSource: Harper International had previously engaged Harper to conduct lab-scale thermal purification trials in an ultra-high temperature furnace system in its Technology Center. Those trials were followed by pilot-scale processing, where Harper processed more than 2 metric tons of advanced battery materials for its client base.

“The Harper thermal purification technology provides Westwater with a competitive solution that is superior to traditional chemical processes in many ways including significant environmental, social and governance (ESG) advantages,” said Cevat Er, Westwater’s vice president of technical services.

“We are pleased that Westwater has chosen Harper for thermal purification equipment solutions as a critical element of their battery graphite production capacity scale-up plan,” said Brian Fuller, sales manager at Harper International.