IMOA Annual Report...Expanded Uses IMOA publishes annual review
14 October 2014
The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) has published its Annual Review for 2013/14, documenting the work of the association on behalf of its members over the year.
“Our work to develop and maintain access to markets on behalf of our membership continued, with ongoing initiatives in market development and health and safety,” said Tim Outteridge, secretary-general. “In parallel, we have been developing a new strategic plan based on members’ feedback and designed to build on our collective strength as a global community.
“The award of Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) status for IMOA’s toxicological dataset was an outstanding achievement. Awarded by the OECD, the dataset is now the key reference point for the development or review of any legislation concerning molybdenum in over 40 countries.”
IMOA continues to support members in technical discussions around the world, sharing data and aiming to ensure a fair outcome in regulatory matters. IMOA’s Molybdenum Consortium (MoCon) completed the first updates of technical dossiers with significant new scientific data, as required by the EU’s REACH regulation.
Expanded uses
“Market development activities have focused on raising the profile of molybdenum in steel across a range of sectors,” said Outteridge. “Successful trials of new molybdenum-containing multiphase and press-hardening steel took place at a number of mills throughout Europe and Asia, with an expansion in the use of molybdenum alloying expected. China remains an important target and IMOA has co-founded a promotion group to popularize stainless steel in this vast potential market. Additionally, IMOA’s research program to find new and expanded uses for molybdenum continues with nine projects currently active.
“[This year] we commissioned an LCA study working with PE International, examining the role of molybdenum in ‘lightweighting’ cars in more detail. The study found that a component manufactured from advanced high-strength steel containing molybdenum in the new model Ford Fusion reduced attributable greenhouse gas emissions by some 29% compared with traditional component designs.”