Heraeus Precious Metals and Sibanye-Stillwater (JSE: SSW and NYSE: SBSW) have partnered on a new joint research and development project aimed at developing the generation of innovative, cost-efficient glass fibre bushings.
The initiative focuses on platinum-palladium (PtPd) alloys enhanced through Heraeus’ proprietary dispersion hardening (DPH) technology, with the goal of enabling more economical glass fibre production while supporting the development of new palladium applications.
Bushings are a critical component in the manufacturing of glass fibres, a market that continues to see strong global demand growth driven by construction, automotive, wind energy and electronics applications. Traditionally, bushings are made from platinum due to the metal’s excellent high-temperature stability. The collaboration aims to partially substitute platinum with palladium to achieve lower material costs and increase demand for palladium.
A key challenge lies in identifying the optimal alloy composition. While increasing palladium content can significantly reduce costs, excessive substitution may compromise mechanical strength and lifetime under high-temperature operating conditions. To address this, Heraeus will apply and further adapt its proprietary DPH process – an oxide dispersion strengthening (ODS) technology – to enhance the material’s resistance and durability.
The project will cover alloy development prototyping and customer validation, planned over a two-year period. The aim is to bring market-ready bushing solutions that are specifically tailored to glass fibre applications such as E-glass fibres (alumino-borosilicate glass fibres used for production of reinforced plastics including printed circuit boards and wind turbine blades), where cost efficiency is a key driver.
For Sibanye-Stillwater, the collaboration is part of a broader strategy to foster new demand streams for palladium and support more balanced demand for platinum group metals (PGMs) that better match the basket of supply. By enabling the substitution of platinum in industrial applications, the project contributes to unlocking additional value for palladium while addressing evolving market dynamics.
Heraeus will contribute its expertise in research and development, precious metals processing, and commercialisation, with development activities taking place in Hanau, Germany, and Shanghai, China. Sibanye-Stillwater will support the project as a strategic partner, contributing its expertise in PGMs and enabling the exploration of new application areas for palladium.
“By combining our expertise in advanced materials engineering with Sibanye-Stillwater’s strength in PGM supply, we aim to unlock new pathways for cost-efficient glass fibre production,” said Thomas Stenger, Head of Business Line Functional Materials at Heraeus Precious Metals. “Our DPH technology enables us to tailor alloy properties in a way that balances performance and cost, making this approach particularly attractive for applications where economic efficiency is critical.”
“Developing new, sustainable and diversified demand streams for palladium is a key priority for Sibanye-Stillwater. Collaborations such as this with Heraeus Precious Metals enable us to support innovation in industrial applications while helping to sustain a balanced demand across the 6E platinum group metals basket in response to changing market dynamics”, said Richard Stewart, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater.
The collaboration reflects both companies’ commitment to driving innovation in platinum group metal applications and addressing evolving market demands through material efficiency and technological advancement. Heraeus and Sibanye-Stillwater have recently collaborated on the development of a breakthrough ruthenium-based catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) water electrolysis, thereby significantly reducing material costs and reliance on iridium for hydrogen production.
About Heraeus Precious Metals
Heraeus Precious Metals is a global leader in the precious metals industry. The company is part of the Heraeus Group and covers the value chain from trading to precious metals products to refining and recycling. It has extensive expertise in all platinum group metals as well as gold and silver.
