About the T.I.C.

The T.I.C. was established in response to concerns within the tantalum industry regarding the lack of useful information on tantalum source materials. The initial purpose of the T.I.C. was to spread information about tantalum and to promote the common interest and welfare of the producers, especially with public and private authorities, organisations and agencies. Since its foundation, the T.I.C. has grown to encompass niobium and all stages of the tantalum/niobium supply chains.

The Association

• An international, non-profit association founded in 1974 under Belgian law.
• Around 90 members from over 30 countries involved with all aspects of the tantalum and niobium industry supply chain (mining, trading, processing, metal fabrication, capacitor manufacturing, recycling, other end-users such as medical, aerospace...)
• Managed by an Executive Committee representing all segments of the industry.

Our objectives:

• Increase awareness and promote the remarkable properties of tantalum and niobium.
• Organize a General Assembly of the membership in September or October each year for business and technical presentations. The location is chosen so that a tour of a member company or industry associated facility in the area may be included in the programme. Guests may attend.
• Organize a longer symposium in September or October about every five years for business and technical presentations, sometimes with a tour of a member company or industry associated facility in the area.
• Publish a semi-annual Bulletin, in electronic and printed format.
• Collect from the members (via an independent company to ensure confidentiality), statistics on raw material production, processors' receipts and product shipments, and capacitor producers' receipts for tantalum, while for niobium raw material production and processors' product shipments are collected. Report consolidated data to the membership on a quarterly basis.
• Address major issues and challenges facing its industry such as conflict minerals' legislation, artisanal and small-scale mining, transport of radioactive materials...