Bioconvergence, Inc is constructing a magnesium alloy turnings recycling plant in Niagara Falls, New York.
Scott Kobryn and Bill Nehill, owners of BCI told MMR that the facility is scheduled to open in June 2002. BCI will provide generators of contaminated, oily magnesium metal turnings with a safe, environmentally sound alternative for recycling as well as providing a full range of support services including material handling, maximized coolant return yields and shipping logistics.
The BCI program calls for providing special shipping containers to the machining operations and removing coolant before shipping the turnings to their plant. At the plant the turnings will be washed and dried in a special proprietary system. The turnings will then be sold either as dried turnings, or as compacted shapes of dry turnings called “pucks”. Contact Bill NEHILL at 716-667-2413 for further information. E-mail: whnitg@aol.com
NEW TYPE RECYCLING PLANT AIMS AT TURNINGS
tinyurl.com
Charges: Bad Chinese magnesium entered US arsenal
AP News | 2010-05-01 00:54:24
Federal charges in NY say bad Chinese magnesium was used to make US military flares
Federal authorities charged six people and three companies Friday with importing substandard magnesium powder from China into the United States, where officials say it got into the Defense Department's arsenal but was discovered before being used in combat or exercises.
The powder was used to make 1.8 million "countermeasure" flares, worth $42 million, that are used by military aircraft to divert heat-seeking missiles. Officials said that none made it onto aircraft before being quarantined, and that all will be destroyed.
"Heaven forbid the measures would not have worked if a pilot was under direct attack by a missile and this was his or her last line of defense," U.S. Attorney William Hochul said.
A grand jury indictment outlined an elaborate scheme that allowed defendants — who hail from New York, Pennsylvania and China — not only to benefit from a lucrative defense contract, but also to avoid steep tariffs meant to protect the American magnesium industry.
The Chinese-made magnesium was mixed with aluminum nuggets and mislabeled when it entered the country in sealed drums through ports in Los Angeles and Washington, investigators said, so that it would not be subject to a 306 percent duty.
Once inside the United States, the quarter-inch aluminum nuggets were sifted out and the magnesium sold to an unknowing defense contractor, Kilgore Flares, investigators said.
"As a result, DOD was sold non-conforming flares, which could have put our war fighters at additional risk," said Lev Kubiak, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Buffalo.
None of those charged was in custody Friday, authorities said. An arraignment had not yet been scheduled.
Among those named in the indictment was Charles Wright, the owner of ESM Group Inc. in the Buffalo suburb of Amherst, who allegedly received the Chinese magnesium and then sold it to Kilgore Flares. Wright did not return telephone messages left at his home or business, which was not named in the indictment.
Wright allegedly received the material from a Franklin, Pa., company, Superior Metal Powders, via Qian Chen, of Beijing, as well as Buffalo-area importer William Nehill and Nehill's International Technology Group.
All were charged in the indictment, along with Superior employees Gregory Magness and Justin Magness. Gregory Magness declined to comment when reached by phone at his Polk, Pa., home Friday. Nehill did not return a call seeking comment.
The Defense Department requires all the finely ground magnesium used for flares to be made in the United States or Canada. The material, which originated in China, did not meet the military's stringent quality standards and might have resulted in a shorter shelf life for the flares, authorities said.
The charge of wire fraud carries a possible 20-year prison term and $250,000 fine. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum five-year term and the same fine. The government also is seeking to recover millions of dollars through the forfeiture of assets.
newyorkcrimestatistics.com
Military Supply Scheme Charges Handed Down by Federal Grand Jury
Michael Wooten Posted By: Athan Kompos Date last updated: 5/1/2010 1:32:24 PM
U.S. Attorney William Hochul announced a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging six people and three corporations with defrauding the U.S. government.
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William Hochul announced a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging six people and three corporations with defrauding the U.S. government.
Hochul made the announcement Friday afternoon.
The indictment alleges the defendants sold 1.8 million countermeasure flares to the Department of Defense that included "substandard" magnesium produced by companies in China. It is required that the magnesium be produced in the U.S. or Canada.
The sale to the D.O.D. was valued at $42 million.
The indictment specifically names the following:
Charles Wright, 60 of Youngstown, NY
William Nehill, 65 of Orchard Park, NY
International Technology Group of Orchard Park, NY
Gregory Magness, 62 of Polk, PA
Justin Magnes, 34 of Oil City, PA
Superior Metal Powders of Franklin, PA
Eldon Bott, 58 of Brigham City, UT
Innovative Materials & Solutions Inc. of Brigham City, UT
Qian Chen, 48 of Beijing, China
Wright is president of ESM, a company headquartered in
Amherst. Nehill is president of International Technology Group, which has an address listed on Briar Hill Road, Nehill's residence.
WGRZ contacted both Wright and Nehill for comment, but they have not returned our calls.
All the individuals named in the indictment are expected to be arrested within the next week to 10 days.
2 On Your Side's Michael Wooten asked the U.S. Attorney, "Do you believe the substandard magnesium put American military lives in danger?"
"Well, the military puts their rules and regulations together for a specific purpose," Hochul said. "They were ignored and in fact intentionally evaded. So whether or not troops were actually in danger would really depend on whether or not the flares had ever been deployed."
It appears the flares were never deployed, but could have been used in the future had this investigation not come about. Now, the $42 million worth of flares will be destroyed.
"But for the grace of God, they were quarantined," Hochul said, "and will now be recalled before being put to the test."
WGRZ
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