As a pioneer in the manufacturing of the electrolytic nickel in Brazil, Votorantim Metais owns a single quality standard production process, which enables it to reach the highest metal performance rates at reduced costs.

The cobalt production, executed through a process of extraction by solvent of property of Votorantim Metais, provides competitive costs to the product.

Mining
The ore – extracted from an open-air mine – is crushed, blended (homogenized) and dried.  After that, it is taken into highly efficient reduction smelters, which metallize the ore and gets it ready for the ammonia based lixiviation phase.  This is how the Nickel Carbonate is formed.

Metallurgy
The refinement of the Nickel Carbonate produced in Niquelândia takes place at the São Miguel Paulista Metallurgic plant, in São Paulo, where it is lixiviated in acid solution and then purified.  After these processes are taken, they prepare the nickel and cobalt rich solutions for the electrolysis, thus forming electrolytic Cobalt and Nickel cathodes.

Take a Virtual Tour to know the Production Process

The São Miguel Paulista Metallurgical Unit is the first Brazilian Company to get the Integrated Management System, as certified within four Rules- ISO 9001:2000 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), OHSAS 18001 ( Labor Safety and Health Management) and SA 8000 (Social Responsibility Management).  This recognition reinforces the company’s commitment towards the safety and health of its employees and towards the environment, besides assuring that quality products and processes are delivered to the market.