No Recession for the Fourth Element

The beryllium space is evolving. The �fourth element� is a key part of the high tech and aerospace economy � where there�s no real recession!

Think about that. Who buys beryllium?

The big airplane builders have fat order books. The rest of aerospace is still doing things that have to get done � for example, building satellites that launch on a multi-year schedule, which is immune to short term ups and downs in the economy.

Plus, a lot of other tech guys are selling equipment like gangbusters, and contributing to the demand for beryllium products.

There�s even a growing use for beryllium within the automotive industry, due to the element�s lightweight and strength. Imagine cracking that market.

And we�re still in the pre-game warm-up for beryllium as part of the nuclear fuel cycle. Wow, that would send demand soaring � in a space where one tiny company is gaining a strong technological edge over everybody else…

Star Trek Outside of Boston

I�ve visited high-end mills before, but this place takes first prize. It�s relatively small, but it reflects a world-class level of quality. In fact, the site I visited is filled with literally Star Trek kind of stuff � high-level niche manufacturing, using the sharpest part of the cutting edge of technology.

The equipment I inspected at this company�s mill is mostly brand-new. The mold-making and metal-casting processes are beyond complicated � they�re truly ingenious. They have brought the old �lost wax� process to a modern pinnacle. The actual casting involves melting alloys at about 2,000 degrees Celsius and pouring metal into molds under a near vacuum. Don�t try this at home.

From the street level, you�d never know that this facility is a metal foundry. It looks like a book warehouse. The air inside the facility is double filtered, and there are virtually no outside emissions. All of the water that gets used in processing is contained on site and eventually recycled or disposed of in accordance with the highest standards � and this is Massachusetts, where standards are plenty high!

Lighter, Harder, Stronger… Better!

I held items in my hand that are much lighter than aluminum, yet harder, stronger and stiffer than steel. Indeed, I�m not kidding about the Star Trek analogy. I handled �space-rated� copies of products that are � right now � hanging off satellites that orbit the earth.

I also handled copies of metal castings that are critical to advanced U.S. weapon systems. Indeed, these products are so advanced that one senior executive asked me to confirm that I�m a U.S. citizen just to touch one object. He explained, �Under the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), we can�t discuss this or show it to people from most other countries.� Needless to say, no photo of that one.

At the same time, this company�s products are for sale not only into aerospace markets. Some of the company�s goods ship across the world for use in products as wide ranging as construction equipment, oil drilling bits and computer chip fabrication systems.