Metallium Limited reports rapid progress at its Gator Point Technology Campus in Texas, advancing its proprietary Flash Joule Heating technology to recover critical metals from electronic waste. The company targets processing 8,000 tonnes of printed circuit boards annually by late 2026.
- Major infrastructure upgrades completed at Gator Point Technology Campus
- Commissioning underway with three Flash Joule Heating reactors to operate in parallel
- Stage-1 capacity target of ~8,000 tonnes per annum of PCB feedstock by Q4 2026
- Binding long-term feedstock supply agreement secured with Glencore
- Plans to expand into specialty metals recovery including gallium and germanium
Rapid Industrial Scale-Up in Texas
Metallium Limited has marked significant strides in scaling its innovative Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology at its Gator Point Technology Campus in Chambers County, Texas. Less than a year after acquiring the site, the company has transformed a previously mothballed facility into a fully integrated technology campus, equipped with upgraded electrical systems, water storage, communications, and structural repairs. This rapid development underpins Metallium’s ambition to establish a domestic U.S. processing hub for critical and precious metals recovered from electronic waste.
The company is now progressing commissioning activities, with a key milestone on the horizon: demonstrating three FJH reactors operating simultaneously. This parallel operation is expected to process between 3 to 5 tonnes of raw printed circuit board (PCB) feedstock daily, validating the modular scalability of the technology and paving the way for the Stage-1 commercial configuration targeting approximately 8,000 tonnes per annum by the end of 2026.
Unlocking High-Value Metals from E-Waste
PCBs are recognised as a rich source of precious and base metals, often containing metal concentrations far exceeding those found in conventional mined ores. Metallium targets feedstock with a gold equivalent grade of around 200 grams per tonne, reflecting the high economic potential of this urban metal resource. The company’s FJH technology rapidly processes these materials, converting them into intermediates suitable for downstream refining and metal recovery.
Metallium has secured a binding long-term feedstock supply agreement with Glencore for up to 2,400 tonnes per annum of PCBs, with ongoing discussions to expand supply. The company aims for recovery rates of 80–90% across key metals such as gold, copper, and silver, benefiting from rising gold prices that have materially increased the value of the metal basket since acquiring the technology.
Strategic Expansion and Future Growth
Beyond its initial focus on PCB recycling, Metallium is exploring the addition of a specialty metals recovery line targeting critical materials like gallium and germanium. These metals are vital for advanced technologies and national security applications, including semiconductors and defence systems. The U.S. government has identified these as critical to securing resilient supply chains, making Metallium’s efforts strategically significant.
The modular design of the FJH reactors allows incremental capacity expansion without major redesign, supporting Metallium’s staged scale-up strategy. The company also plans to develop downstream refining pathways to enhance metal recovery and create multiple saleable products, further strengthening its commercial prospects.
Positioning for Commercial Operations
With commissioning well underway, Metallium is focused on optimising feedstock preparation and downstream recovery processes while progressing additional feedstock agreements. The Gator Point campus will serve as the central hub for feedstock testing and pilot system deployment, supporting Metallium’s processing-as-a-service business model.
Managing Director Michael Walshe emphasised the rapid transformation of the site and the importance of the upcoming parallel reactor demonstration milestone. Success here will validate the technology’s scalability and bring Metallium closer to its goal of near-term production and revenue generation within the strategically important U.S. critical metals supply chain.
Bottom Line?
Metallium’s Texas scale-up is a pivotal step toward commercialising critical metals recovery, with upcoming milestones set to prove its technology’s industrial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Metallium successfully demonstrate three FJH reactors operating in parallel by mid-2026?
- How quickly can additional feedstock supply agreements be secured to support planned capacity expansions?
- What are the timelines and challenges for adding specialty metals recovery lines targeting gallium and germanium?