Vital Materials to set up R&D unit in France

Vital Materials Co, one of the world's largest rare metal materials producers, intends to set up a research and development laboratory in France with its Belgian partner.

The project is part of the framework agreement signed with Cappelle Pigments NV last year, when Vital Materials acquired Cappelle's pigment plant in Tianjin, said Li Jingzhen, deputy general manager of Vital Materials.

The company is the world's largest selenium and tellurium materials producer and one of the leading manufacturers of gallium, indium, germanium, bismuth and cadmium products. The materials are used in products such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, mobile phones, infrared detection devices, animal feed, lasers and medical equipment.