PGMs are universally present in the catalytic converters in motor vehicles, in disc drives, oil refineries, glass manufacturing, medical devices and implants such as pacemakers and dental crowns, and a host of other applications. Some are also highly valued in jewelry and investment. PGMs are also rare, and quite costly.

Like most natural resources, PGM supplies are inherently limited, but to a greater degree than other important minerals. PGMs are produced in just a few countries; the U.S. imports 95 percent of the PGMs it consumes.

The limits of those supplies are now becoming clear. Already, Russia, the largest palladium producer, has announced that its palladium supplies are dwindling.

Industry analyses indicate that known PGM reserves are sufficient for another 360 years at present rates of production and consumption. However, that figure drops to 15 years if rising demand, particularly from growing industrialization and automobile sales in emerging economies, is taken into account.

Growing demand is fueled by a range of factors including accelerating motor vehicle sales around the world, a rising industrial sector in many regions and a growing consumer preference for white metals in jewelry. As demand exceeds available supplies, prices will rise significantly.

In the recent past, limited supply in the face of changing demand has produced extreme volatility. Rhodium, for example, went from over $6,000 per ounce in mid-2007 to $10,000 per ounce in mid-2008 and dropped to a little above $1,000 before the end of that year.

On the other hand there are technologies already on the market, and some near commercialization, that will alter the picture just as dramatically in the other direction, by replacing PGMs at much lower cost, and by relieving supply and price pressure through improved recovery.

While some PGM applications, such as jewelry, investment and electronics, are relatively immune from substitution at this time, most PGM applications are vulnerable to replacement by nanotechnology-based solutions available at a fraction of the cost. Such alternatives can partly or completely replace the PGM content in critical applications like catalysts in the automotive, energy and industrial markets.

Other new methods will eventually, in effect, bring new supplies to market through improved recovery. New techniques for recycling catalytic converters and similar products are able to recover far more PGM content than was possible earlier. In addition, once-inaccessible PGM content in copper and nickel mine waste and slag can now be exploited. The availability of literally mountains of mine waste and slag throughout western North America and other parts of the world, will soon set off a “gold rush” to exploit those resources.

Today, platinum group metals are at an extraordinary intersection of market forces. The confluence of growing demand, limited and/or dwindling supplies, and growing availability of alternatives and new supplies, will likely create a period of extraordinary volatility before things stabilize.

Much of this decade will witness a transition of PGM markets to adjust to a new reality of price volatility and tightened supplies, while others move to take advantage of the new opportunities presented in PGM recovery and replacement.

About Thintri, Inc.:
Founded in 1996, Thintri, Inc. (www.thintri.com), is a full-service consulting firm, based in New York and directed by J. Scott Moore, Ph.D.

Thintri’s services include business intelligence, market research, technology transfer and technology assessment, and in-depth, off-the-shelf market studies on promising emerging technologies. Topics of focus have included medical and industrial imaging, optical networks, materials and coatings, semiconductor devices, manufacturing, industrial logistics, security, thermal management, energy, and a host of others.

For more information, visit http://www.thintri.com or call 914-242-4615.

Media Contact:
J. Scott Moore
+1-914-242-4615
smoore@thintri.com.

News Source: Thintri, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

“It’s the only place to be,” says Smith. “Silver will dominate the commodity market in 2012.”

Smith strongly believes that political and economic changes have a dynamic impact on prices and in this time of global economic advancements there will be a mega shift in the metal market. Silver will dictate market direction.

“As the global manufacturing machine gets into high gear it will sift through silver inventories at a rate never seen before,” adds Smith.

According to the Silver Institute, silver is indispensable. From industrial use to its role in decoration, technology, photography and medicine, its unique properties of strength, malleability, reflectivity and conductivity make it an irreplaceable force in the global market.

Smith adds that it is advisable to diversify risk by investing in precious metals and Smith McKenna offers some of the lowest spreads in the commodities investing market.

Smith is scheduled to appear on Global Talk Radio, the world news and talk superstation, where he will address issues such as the explosion in the demand for metals; investing in metals in 2012; China’s economic growth explosion; and more.

About Smith McKenna, LLC:
Smith McKenna is a broker/dealer of gold, silver, platinum, palladium and copper bullion. It provides market analysis and commodities investing advice in the area of precious metals. Client advice is based on research, current events, and technical and market psychology trends.

For more information, visit: www.Smithmckenna.com .

News Source: Smith McKenna, LLC :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Suction dredge mining in California has been under a temporary moratorium since 2009, when the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) began conducting an Environmental Impact Report on the practice. In February 2011 the draft report was released, which concludes that suction dredge mining is not deleterious to fish.

But the positive outcome was not anticipated by a handful of Indian tribes and environmental extremists who don’t like suction dredging, so they concocted an erroneous $1.8M deficit in the suction dredge program and proposed to Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) that he carry the ‘budget cutting’ language to the State Budget in a trailer bill. The bill language was written in such a way that the DFG would have been prevented from ever publishing the EIR, thus ending suction dredge mining forever in California.

Miners got word of the last-minute attempt to kill the industry and began contacting Governor Brown and the Legislators who had been supplied with the erroneous information. In three party-line votes, all Democrats voted for the ‘budget cut’ and all Republicans voted against it. Because the Democrats have majority in both houses, the trailer bill passed and was sent to the Governor for his signature. Fortunately, the bill died there today.

With Governor Brown’s veto, the DFG can now publish the EIR findings and resume updating the dredge mining regulations.

However, in a companion attack by the same anti-mining foes, amended moratorium language was inserted in yet another trailer budget bill AB120, which, if enacted, will add five more years to the soon-expiring moratorium which began in 2009.

“It is our hope that Governor Brown will allow the original moratorium to be solved with the EIR scientific findings,” states Dunn, “rather than allowing anti-mining foes to keep inventing new criteria for the DFG to chase after, and wasting taxpayers money while doing so.”

If the Governor vetoes the trailer bill language, the nearly immediate consequences to California’s economy would be positive: 4,000 miners will be back to work and 15,000 inter-related jobs will be protected, adding much needed revenues to the State’s coffers.

The suction dredge gold mining industry generates $23 million annually in California, and supports jobs in more than 14 sectors, including restaurants, hardware stores, gas stations and camping outfitters. “These are real mom and pop businesses that rely on miners every season,” says Dunn. They, along with the miners, are hoping for a quick and positive decision by the Governor on AB120.

About Gold Pan California:
The company was founded in 2008 by Mike Dunn, an international gold mining specialist who has been suction gold dredge mining for 33 years.

For more information visit http://www.goldpancalifornia.com .

News Source: Gold Pan California :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

What the gold miners and Dunn are in upheaval about is an inaccurate $1.8 million budget deficit in the suction dredging gold mining program, which the Department of Fish and Game administers. If the Legislature rules in favor of the trailer budget bill language to “cut” the erroneous $1.8 million deficit, the consequences would be sweeping: the entire California suction dredge gold mining industry will be killed, putting 4,000 miners out of work permanently and affecting another 15,000 inter-related jobs their industry supports.

Because the budget cutting language was inserted just 3 weeks ago, no miners were allowed to publicly comment on the mistake. Now, Dunn is trying to call on every Legislator to alert them to the obvious but disaster-provoking mistake. “I’m bringing the proof with me in hard copy. Everyone can agree with the very deliberate wording by the DOJ. The program pays for itself, period.”

Indeed, just yesterday the first Federal lawsuit against the State was filed in Sacramento by a miner who knows he’s standing on firm ground.

The suction dredge gold mining industry generates $23 million in California, and affects more than 14 sectors including restaurants, hardware stores, gas stations and camping outfitters. “These are real mom and pop businesses that rely on us miners every season,” says Dunn. “We’re trying to give the Legislature buckets of water to put out the fire before it gets to them.”

There will never be a time when it doesn’t make sense for a man to prospect for gold, and hopefully former Attorney General Jerry Brown’s golden words will get to the Legislators in time to avert a disastrous end to the industry that put California on the map.

About Gold Pan California:
The company was founded in 2008 by Mike Dunn, an international gold mining specialist who has been suction gold dredge mining for 33 years.

For more information visit http://www.goldpancalifornia.com .

News Source: Gold Pan California :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

What Dunn is referring to are the results of a 1.2 million dollar Environmental Impact Report (EIR) conducted on the practice of suction dredge mining, which the Department of Fish & Game has worked on for the last 2 years. The results conclude that suction dredge gold mining can be resumed in the State safely, and pose “less than significant” impacts.

“The public should be outraged that the Legislature is attempting to prohibit the scientific outcome of any issue, and in this case, such a misunderstood one,” Dunn states.

Suction gold miners have been prevented from working since August 2009, when the Legislature imposed a temporary moratorium on the practice until an EIR was completed. The purpose of conducting the EIR was to scientifically examine the practice and put to rest the controversy.

Until 2 weeks ago, the EIR was on track to be published and DFG regulations updated, which would allow the gold miners to go back to work in November.

But in a recent budget maneuver, 2 lethal paragraphs of language were inserted into a Trailer Budget Bill, which would prohibit the EIR conclusion from ever being published, and at the same time, kill the suction gold mining industry in California.

“We just have a lot more higher and more important things to find funding for,” said Assembly member Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, who pushed the language in the lower house. Huffman is referring to a relatively paltry $1.8 million budget cut to the DFG’s $400 million dollar annual budget.

But critics of Huffman quickly criticize his statement as being minimized to the point of false.

“The impact of this Legislation isn’t a $1.8 million cut,” states Jeff Kuykendall, owner of Proline Gold Mining Equipment located in Coulterville.

“By the DFG’s own calculations, the industry contributes $23 million annually, and those who benefit are in the lowest income counties in the State. In addition to the retailers of my equipment throughout the State, at least 14 other sectors of small businesses including grocery, restaurants, lodging, fuel and hardware are awaiting the EIR publication because their businesses depend on the miners getting back to work.”

Approximately 4,000 miners create the $23 million annual industry in California, and they have been the center of controversy for a handful of environmental groups and the Karuk Tribe’s Director of Natural Resources, Leaf Hillman, who thinks the miners are to blame for low salmon numbers in recent years.

“It is Catch-22 language,” said DFG Director John McCamman, referring to the 2 paragraphs of language which specifically allow the DFG to enforce a continuing moratorium, but end the conclusion and publication of the EIR.

Mark Stopher, DFG Environmental Program Manager, stated to FOX news “It’s our view that suction dredging can be regulated in a way that we don’t have deleterious effect on fish at the population level.”

Stopher said he’s not happy about the prospect of the budget cut negating the $1.2 million spent on the environmental review.

“Nobody likes to have done their very best for two years to deliver what the court and Legislature told us to do and have an outcome where you say never mind,” he said.

Indeed, by prohibiting the EIR findings from being published, it appears that the State opens itself to mass lawsuits from individual miners who have been paying taxes on their idle Federal mining claims while awaiting the conclusion of the EIR.

Further, since large-scale maintenance dredging and salmonid gravel augmentation projects abound throughout the waterways in the Golden State, the prohibition appears to be discriminatorily aimed against suction dredge gold miners.

And where citizen’s rights are at stake, censorship is never the right decision, budget driven or otherwise.

About Gold Pan California:
The company was founded in 2008 by Mike Dunn, an international gold mining specialist who has been suction gold dredge mining for 33 years.

For more information visit http://www.goldpancalifornia.com .

News Source: Gold Pan California :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

While a budget to most people is the sum of income and expenses, in a breathtaking misstep by the California Legislature, the Budget Committees are in the process of voting in a $1.8 Million cut to the Department of Fish & Game (DFG) budget, which will cost the State $23 Million annually.

“Math 101 should have kicked this proposal out of the very first Budget Committee hearing,” states Jeff Kuykendall, owner of Proline, a manufacturer of mining equipment in Coulterville. Kuykendall poses the obvious financial question “How did they consider a budget vote when all they had before them was the outgo”?

At the center of the blunder is an anticipated $1.8 Million deficit from the implementation of new suction dredge mining regulations which will be released in November. The difference between permit fees and proposed program expense is estimated at $1.8 Million.

But the solution to the deficit lies within the same Budget Committees who have drafted the proposed budget cut. The DFG can’t increase the fees, only the Legislature can.

“The impact to the State budget could be revenue neutral, and the State would benefit from the $23 Million in revenue,” Dunn says “if they would just do their job.”

The more ominous result of the relatively paltry budget cut will be the permanent closure of suction dredge gold mining, which will put 4,000 miners out of work. The initial cost to the State would be $23 Million annually, but that cost would continue to increase over time.

The solution sums up easily for Dunn: “If I made a $1.8 Million investment and got an annual return of $23 Million I would be pretty financially intelligent.” The reverse is also true. And hopefully, enough Legislators will pull out their calculators and do the math before it’s too late.

About Gold Pan California:
The company was founded in 2008 by Mike Dunn, an international gold mining specialist who has been suction gold dredge mining for 33 years.

For more information visit http://www.goldpancalifornia.com .

News Source: Gold Pan California :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

In 2009, the California Legislature imposed a temporary moratorium on suction gold dredging until a court-ordered Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was completed. Since then, the State has spent $1.5 Million to conduct the study, and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), who manages the suction dredge permitting program, is on track to release the updated regulations in November, which will allow the gold miners to go back to work.

That is, unless the California Legislature passes 2 lethal paragraphs of trailer budget bill language regarding suction dredge mining next week. Although the language is titled as a $1.8 Million cut and 5-year moratorium, the consequences will be colossally worse.

Since the DFG new regulations will not be concluded until November, but the current budget will be passed before then, the original temporary moratorium can never be lifted. Thus, the gold mining industry will be instantly killed, and the financial loss will affect small businesses in at least 14 sectors including grocery, restaurants, lodging, fuel and hardware.

Dunn points to the stack of fine-gold recovery units for suction dredges that he has been building in anticipation of the industry re-opening. “The DFG has already spent $1.5 Million to complete the EIR, which proved that gold dredging is not deleterious to fish; now the Legislature wants to discard the results? This is extraordinarily reckless legislation!”

Indeed, the socio-economic destruction would be vast. By the DFG’s own calculations, $23 Million annually benefits the lowest income regions of the State.

Proline, a mining equipment manufacturer based in Coulterville, suffered a 40 percent loss when the 2009 temporary moratorium went into effect. Owner Jeff Kuykendall paints a bleak picture for the California retailers of his products. “We are very fortunate to have overseas sales to help sustain our business. But if this legislation passes, my retailers will be forced out of business. The Legislature hasn’t even considered how broad the closures will be.”

In Siskiyou County, nearly every business and household is dependent on the miners. Bruce Johnson owns Mid River RV located in Seiad Valley. All of the neighboring businesses, a cafe, grocery store, mini storage and post office, rely on Johnson’s tenants for their seasonal incomes. Johnson also serves on the Seiad Valley Fire Board, which is the oldest all-volunteer fire department in California. Exasperated, Johnson asks “Is the Legislature intentionally dysfunctional? We’re holding on for dear life out here and the gold miners could immediately help ease the burden.”

In the 1850′s, gold miners blew down hillsides with huge hydraulic cannons of water which wreaked havoc on rivers and were outlawed. 100 years later, manufacturers such as Proline invented the environmentally responsible hand held suction dredge, and gold miners have been using them ever since.

Suction dredge mining is conducted underwater by a diver wearing about 50 pounds of weights, with most of the work dependant on the strength of the individual. The suction dredge consists of a hand-held vacuum hose, with a sluice box floated on pontoons above. The diver holds the vacuum hose with one hand while throwing cobbles out of the way with the other hand, and the gold flakes land up in the sluice.

Dunn says that suction dredge mining is the epitome of the American dream; “Suction gold dredging is one of the purest tests of the human spirit. The underwater working conditions are constantly challenging and sometimes brutal, but at $1,500 a teaspoonful, prospecting for gold is worth every effort spent.”

Whether prospecting for the Mother lode or a few small flakes to put food on the table, the fate of more than 4,000 miners and the annual $23 to $70 Million industry they create is being determined by the Legislature this week.

About Gold Pan California:
The company was founded in 2008 by Mike Dunn, an international gold mining specialist who has been suction gold dredge mining for 33 years.

For more information visit http://www.goldpancalifornia.com .

News Source: Gold Pan California :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

One of the fastest growing providers of these popular parties, and a forerunner in the business is Denver’s own, The Gold Exchange. Les Harrell, the founder of the company, created The Gold Exchange as a solution to organizations and individuals who were trying to raise money for their future and individual needs. Having worked in the jewelry industry for over 20 years, he decided that he wanted to create an organization that provided a unique service that would not only allow people to sell their older precious metals, but help to raise both funds and community awareness for several local causes. These causes have ranged from high school sports, churches, dance studios, and other local charitable organizations.

Originally started as a personal project, the idea caught on very quickly, and before Les knew it, the Gold Exchange parties were booked several months out, and he was being asked to setup services in more locations. He decided to franchise the idea, with a very low cost of entry, and to help others to setup their own local services. To date, The Gold Exchange, and Heart to Heart Gold Exchange, now have over 21 franchise offices in the United States, and are currently pursuing new openings in Texas, northern Ohio, and greater Seattle. The sheer volume of gold, silver, and platinum has induced the company to purchase and operate its very own refinery, giving it an even greater advantage over its competitors, and allowing them to offer even better pricing.

“We had no idea that so many others would not only see our Gold parties as a great way to raise funds, but want to bring the same service back to their hometowns. The growth and interest has been amazing – especially now, when gold is at its highest selling price,” said Les Harrell, the founder. “Not only has this created new business opportunities for some of the Exchange operators, this is helping pump funds into a lot of local services and charities that might be getting neglected or short changed in this economy. It is a great way to give back – and have fun in the process.”

The Gold Exchange and its private fund raising parties have been featured on CNN, and Local affiliates of ABC and the CW in the Denver for both its rapid growth, and its ability to help community charities. Les Harrell, its founder, has been interviewed and featured in the media as an expert in this growing field, as well an outspoken advocate for ethics and fair pricing in the precious metal field. His service has been compared to other national chains both for pricing offered, and for the gold party experience – and has been given high marks.

The Gold Exchange is also one of the only members in its category that is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

About The Gold Exchange and Heart to Heart Gold Exchange:
The Gold Exchange and Heart to Heart Gold Exchange were founded in Littleton, Colorado. Les Harrell, the founder of both organizations has been in the jewelry and precious metal industry for over 20 years. His credits include, Graduate Gemologist, Certified Appraiser, Jewelry Designer and craftsman. Les also previously owned and operated a retail custom jewelry store in the Littleton, Colorado area that was well respected within the community. The Gold Exchange offices and store are now located at 3140 S. Parker Road, Aurora CO 80014.

To request a fundraising gold party for your organization or cause, or to learn more about The Gold Exchange or Heart to Heart Gold Exchange, please call 1-800-372-9041, or visit the company’s websites – http://www.thegoldexchange.us or http://www.hearttoheartgoldexchange.com .

News Source: The Gold Exchange :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

Plain text copy of press release: send2pressnewswire.com/mediadrome/2011-02-0203-007.txt .
PDF copy of release: send2pressnewswire.com/mediadrome/news_2011-02-0203-007.pdf .

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 18 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Detector Electronics Corporation (Det-Tronics) announced today the release of a new Mining IR (MIR) fixed methane gas detector approved by the U.S. Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) to their standards. Intended for installation in underground mines, the MIR combustible gas detector uses an infrared (IR) light beam to detect and accurately measure methane gas concentration, while continuously performing self checks so there are no unrevealed failures. Det-Tronics is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

“In support of the mining industry’s commitment to total safety, we developed a fixed methane gas detector that remains sensitive and accurate even after prolonged exposure to oxygen-depleted environments and in areas with high levels of hydrocarbon gas,” said Mike Bragg, Det-Tronics Product Manager.

User benefits include reduced calibration and maintenance requirements, long life, and low cost of ownership. For ease of installation, the MIR is factory-calibrated and is shipped ready to install with pre-fitted MSHA-approved cable glands.

To reduce maintenance, the detector’s modular design provides field-replaceable optics-protection filters. In addition, the transmitter display module provides an easy-to-read digital LCD readout indicating 0-5% by volume detected gas concentration.

The MIR easily integrates into new or existing systems via the standard 4 to 20 mA analog output and optional alarm/fault relay-output package.

Contact:
Cathryn Kasic, 952.833.8661, cathryn.kasic @detronics.com.

About Detector Electronics
Detector Electronics Corporation (Det-Tronics) is a world leader in industrial fire detection, gas detection, and hazard mitigation systems. Det-Tronics designs, builds, tests, and commissions safety systems that range from conventional panels to fault-tolerant, addressable systems. Det-Tronics flame and gas detectors are globally certified to the latest product approvals standards, including critical SIL2 industrial applications. Learn more at www.det-tronics.com.

Det-Tronics is part of UTC Fire & Security, which provides fire safety and security solutions to more than one million customers around the world. Headquartered in Connecticut, UTC Fire & Security is a business unit of United Technologies Corp., which provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide. More information can be found at www.utcfireandsecurity.com.

News Source: Detector Electronics Corporation :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

Farthing West has chosen SigmaFlow to power their program. SigmaFlow’s popular software allows workflow blended learning that delivers standards, consistency, and productivity for company-wide process management, project execution, and governance.

Greg West, Managing Director of Farthing West, stated “SigmaFlow allows just-in-time learning and automated knowledge sharing within a role-tailored workspace where people actually execute their projects. This software is a major productivity enhancement for our Lean Six Sigma projects that can consistently save our clients 30% of the time and resources needed to make improvements.”

Farthing West specializes in Lean Six Sigma consulting across mining operations, management and contract mining.

Jay Holstine, CEO of SigmaFlow, stated “We are very pleased to have Farthing West use our solutions. Their industry expertise and operationally focused approach to improving clients’ results is very complimentary with ours.”

AIMEX 2007 will be held at the Sydney Showground on September 4th-7th. For more information please visit www.aimex.com.au Farthing West will be on Stand H1056.

About Farthing West
Farthing West people are specialists in Lean Six Sigma, consulting major public companies and service organizations across a range of sectors from Manufacturing to Education, Mining and Health. We work closely with people on safety and productivity interventions to deliver step-change performance improvement now and into the future. By working on real problems, adding wealth to the business and mentoring staff in using Lean Six Sigma tools, we train busy personnel to be more effective.

For future information on Farthing West, please visit www.farwest.com.au or contact John Winchester at +612-9763-2622.

About SigmaFlow
SigmaFlow’s Best Practice Execution System(TM) enables consistent execution of proven methodologies. A few of the common applications include Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement, Compliance, Safety, Stage-Gate Product Development, Quality Certification and Process Quality Management

Thousands of process and project management professionals at diverse major organizations such as Albertsons, ConocoPhillips, EDS, First Data Corporation, Merrill Lynch, Pratt & Whitney, The World Bank, Tyco International, Valspar, and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal are improving results from SigmaFlow’s software every day.

For further information on SigmaFlow please visit www.sigmaflow.com or contact Hal Stebbins at +1-972-447-8340.

All trademarks acknowledged.

News Source: SigmaFlow :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2007 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.