Rio Tinto
Global mining and metals company supplying aluminium-scandium alloys and metal powders for additive manufacturing, enabling high-strength, lightweight 3D-printed components for aerospace and industrial applications.
- CEO / Founder
- Simon Trott
- Team Size
- 5001-10000
- Stage
- Public
- Latest Round
- IPO
Technology & Products
Key Products
Aluminium-scandium alloy (for 3D printing); Titanium dioxide feedstock; Iron ore; Copper; Aluminium; Lithium; Borates; Industrial minerals
Technological Advantage
Rio Tinto's proprietary aluminium-scandium alloy (e.g., Scalmalloy-type) achieves high strength (up to 520 MPa) and excellent corrosion resistance, backed by 115 patents in PBF-EB technology. The company's vertical integration from mine to powder ensures supply security and quality control, a defensible advantage over pure powder producers.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Provides high-performance aluminium-scandium alloys that offer superior strength-to-weight ratios and weldability for 3D printing, reducing material costs and enabling lighter, more durable parts compared to conventional aluminium alloys.
How They Differentiate
Unlike pure metal powder producers, Rio Tinto controls the entire supply chain from scandium mining to alloy production, offering superior traceability, consistent quality, and lower cost per part. Its aluminium-scandium alloy provides 20-30% higher strength than conventional AlSi10Mg, with better fatigue resistance.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace manufacturers, metal powder producers, additive manufacturing service bureaus, industrial OEMs
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Automotive; Defense; Construction; Electronics; Energy; Packaging
Competitors
Höganäs AB; Sandvik AB; EOS GmbH; AP&C (GE Additive); Carpenter Technology; GKN Hoeganaes; ATI Powder Metals
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Revenue of $53.6 billion in 2024; underlying EBITDA of $23.9 billion; 57,000+ employees globally
Major Milestones
2021: First commercial sale of aluminium-scandium alloy for 3D printing to Amaero; 2021: Opened new scandium plant in Canada; 2025: Appointed Simon Trott as Chief Executive; 2024: Launched Rio Tinto Ventures to invest in technology startups
Notable Customers
Amaero; Volvo Group; Various aerospace OEMs (via alloy sales)