By Kari Williamson

Niotan has been a supplier of tantalum powder to KEMET for several years.

“This acquisition is in keeping with our announced strategic direction to vertically integrate operation and to better control supply resources as well as to contain our cost structure,” says KEMET CEO Per Loof.

“Acquiring Niotan is a significant step in securing and stabilising our tantalum powder resource. Additionally, we recently announced a comprehensive plan for sourcing conflict free tantalum ore from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We will continue to purchase a portion of our tantalum needs from our existing supply base. Together, these actions have put in place a supply hcain that provides customers with confidence in the long-term viability of our tantalum capacitance solutions and will allow for faster to market development of speciality powders from KEMET.”