Rio Tinto, Fer et Titane (RTFT), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group, will invest $30 million to improve efficiency and increase capacity at its metal-powder plant in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. The investment will be used to upgrade equipment and increase metal-powder production capacity by more than 20% over the next two years. The upgrade and expansion will add 10 new jobs and reduce the plant’s cooling-water consumption.

Global demand for metal powders is driven mainly by the automotive sector, where manufacturers are increasing their intensity of use to lower automobile weight and increase fuel efficiency. Metal powders are also used in the fabrication of home appliance and power-tool components. RTFT’s southern Quebec facility, established in 1968, produces iron and steel powders.