DISA Technologies has reached a significant milestone with the sale of its first commercial-scale mineral processing unit to Lundin Mining’s Eagle Mine in Michigan. The 100-ton-per-hour system, developed over seven and a half years, marks the company’s transition from pilot testing to commercial deployment of its High-Pressure Slurry Ablation technology. This sale could signal a shift in the mineral processing landscape, offering a more efficient and potentially cost-effective alternative to traditional methods.
The technology, which DISA refers to as “disassociation,” aims to simplify the separation of target minerals. “In layman’s terms, we make it easier to separate target minerals that you care about,” said Greyson Buckingham, DISA’s co-founder and CEO. The process involves creating a slurry of material and water, then forcing high-pressure collisions between particles of different hardness levels. This method is designed to replace energy-intensive traditional processes that can account for up to 40% of mineral processing costs.
DISA’s technology could have a substantial impact on the mining industry, particularly in the extraction of critical minerals like copper, nickel, and rare earths. The company’s approach could also revolutionize environmental cleanup efforts, particularly for abandoned uranium mines. With over 15,000 sites containing waste from Cold War-era mining, the market potential is vast. The Navajo Nation alone has 523 abandoned sites where contamination has created documented health problems.
DISA’s uranium remediation market represents a significant opportunity. The company aims to make cleanups self-funding through uranium recovery, potentially eliminating the need for taxpayer dollars. “We’re anticipating that we won’t even need any taxpayer dollars to help fund the cleanup,” Buckingham said. “And we can just go do it from a private sector solution.” This approach could make cleanup economically viable at sites where traditional methods have proven cost prohibitive.
The company’s progress continues to accelerate amid favorable market conditions. Higher uranium prices and strong support for critical minerals from both the Biden and Trump administrations have contributed to DISA’s growth. The company has recently scaled up, raising $50 million and growing from eight employees at the start of 2024 to 45. All manufacturing happens at DISA’s Casper facility, with units shipped to operations in Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.
However, DISA faces typical scaling challenges for industrial technology companies. Lead times for key components like pumps can extend up to 14 weeks, which constrains production capacity. Mining industry sales cycles are lengthy, and regulatory approvals add complexity to the uranium business. Despite these hurdles, DISA is forging ahead with plans to add around 15 employees over the next year, with potential for faster growth if uranium remediation business materializes as expected.
The sale to Lundin Mining and the company’s plans for uranium remediation could shape the future of the mining sector. If DISA’s technology proves successful in commercial applications, it could set a new standard for mineral processing and environmental cleanup. The company’s focus on efficiency and sustainability aligns with the industry’s growing emphasis on these values. As DISA continues to grow and refine its technology, it will be interesting to see how the mining industry responds and adapts to this innovative approach.