The Department of Defense has awarded $19 million to Nathan Trotter & Co., Inc. (Nathan Trotter) to establish a domestic facility for the smelting, refining, and recycling of tin in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. This funding comes through the Defense Production Act Investment (DPAI) program.
Tin is crucial for various defense applications, including soldering for electrical connections in semiconductors, high-end capacitors, and other electronic components used in military hardware and essential civilian infrastructure. The new facility will be designed with the potential for future expansion to meet a larger portion of the U.S. annual tin requirement.
"Tin refinement and processing capacity is essential for both defense and commercial aviation and microelectronics," said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (ASD(IBP)). "This first Defense Production Act investment in the tin industrial base will directly counter the United States' reliance on foreign tin refiners and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities."
Mr. Anthony Di Stasio, Director of the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate within OASD(IBP), added: "Establishing this comprehensive tin processing facility will help secure the continuous flow of primary tin materials from friendly sources, countering Chinese efforts to monopolize the global supply, as well as mitigate smelting supply chain vulnerabilities. In addition, this facility will enhance recycling to ensure tin remains onshore."
This award is part of 59 grants made by the DPAI program across multiple areas, totaling $589 million since fiscal year 2024 began. The initiative supports the National Defense Industrial Strategy's priority to boost domestic production of critical minerals.
For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.html
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)) collaborates with domestic and international partners to maintain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base supporting current and future warfighters.
