U.S. Antimony Commissions First of Nine Furnaces, Boosts Capacity 300% Per Unit
UAMY•United States Antimony began commissioning in May the first of nine state-of-the-art gas-fired furnaces at its new Thompson Falls smelter, targeting full operation by month-end with five furnaces online this week. The expansion, backed by a $27 million Department of War award (with $12.9 million received), triples per-furnace capacity.
1. Smelter Commissioning Progress
Commissioning of the new Thompson Falls facility began in May with the first of nine gas-fired furnaces. Five furnaces are expected to be online by the end of the week, with minor modifications applied daily as additional internal parts and heat exchangers arrive.
2. Funding and Financial Impact
The expansion is funded by a $27 million award from the Department of War, of which $12.9 million has been received through milestone payments. These funds cover a significant portion of the new smelter costs and reduce capital strain on the company.
3. Capacity and Efficiency Improvements
Each new furnace delivers a 300% increase in capacity over existing units, along with improved thermal efficiency, lower labor per ton, and reduced emissions. When both the new and existing furnaces are at full capacity, total plant output will reach three to four times historical production.
4. Deferral of Older Facility Renovation
Management deferred planned renovations of the older Thompson Falls smelter until 2027 to allocate resources toward maximizing output from the two facilities in fiscal 2026. This decision aims to meet rising demand from industrial and military customers.
