New Toshiba motor avoids China rare earth: report

As Japan attempts to reduce its dependence on rare-earth minerals from China, Japanese tech-focused conglomerate Toshiba Corp. JP:6502 +3.36 percent TOSYY +2.72 percent has developed a powerful motor magnet that sidesteps the need for China-sourced dysprosium, the Nikkei reported Friday. While dysprosium is mostly found in China, the new Toshiba motor substitutes a different rare-earth metal – samarium – which abounds in Australia and the US, the report said. Japan and China have clashed over rare earths, notably in late 2010, when China briefly halted rare-earth shipments to Japan. The Nikkei report said Toshiba hopes to begin selling the new engine, which can be used in cars, trains and industrial machinery, by next March.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/new-toshiba-motor-avoids-china-rare-earth-report-2012-08-16

 

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