Research & Development

 

R&D KEEPS US COMPETITIVE

Teck Cominco Research, based in Trail, performs work for all Teck Cominco's mining and smelting operations in North America and overseas. The Research Centre has an annual budget of $5 million. Its workforce comprises 31 highly skilled scientists and technologists of whom 8 hold PhD’s. It provides a valuable service, ensuring that Teck Cominco Ltd. improves process efficiencies and implements new technologies to maintain its competitive position as a world leader in its industry. Dr. Andy Stradling, the centre's Director, notes that Teck Cominco Research adds significant value to the corporation and recruits world-class metallurgical engineers and scientists to Trail and the surrounding area.

 

GLOBAL PLAYER THAT’S MORE THAN HOT AIR !

BOC Gases Ltd. operates a $70 million air separation plant at Trail. It supplies oxygen, nitrogen and argon. BOC sells to customers throughout Western Canada and to the US Pacific Northwest. For-example, liquid argon is transported from Trail to customers in the electronics industry in northwest United States. BOC also produces medical grade liquid oxygen to hospitals in Spokane, Washington, Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital at Trail and others. BOC provides global solutions for industrial gases and applications. With its 11 employees, BOC has a positive outlook for its business at Trail.

 

UNIQUE IN THE WORLD

Toxco Waste Management Ltd. is an innovative environmental technology company which established the world’s first lithium recycling operation in a 40,000 square foot plant at Columbia Gardens located south of Trail. After successfully completing a US$10.5 million contract to recycle large lithium batteries from a US Government minuteman missile decommissioning program, the company has continued to recycle lithium batteries from various sources.

 

The Trail plant developed a lithium carbonate process which is an integral part of the recycling effort. The company continues to aggressively pursue new sales opportunities and currently recycles batteries for the growing oil and gas sector. Kathy Bruce, General Manager, stated that the company is in the final phases of testing alkaline battery recycling and the results have been positive so far. The company is committed to continuous innovation through aggressive in-house research and development headed up by Dr. Richard Schutte. Toxco is a strong supporter of local suppliers and is a business that further diversifies the local economy.

 

THE BEST IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

KC Recycling Ltd operates a 40,000 sq. ft. plant that recycles lead acid batteries in conjunction with Teck Cominco. The batteries are sourced from throughout Western Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. The company produces polypropylene pellets which are sold to manufacturers of various consumer products. Recently the company has began pulverizing end of life electronics for metals recovery and environmentally friendly plastic incineration at Teck Cominco. E-waste as it is known is a growing environmental concern as thousands of tons go into land fills every year in BC alone. Many electronics such as televisions and monitors contain toxic components that may leech into groundwater if not properly disposed of.

 
 
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