JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diamond stalwart De Beers has acquired a 33.4% stake in Swiss-based laser micro-jet (LMJ) technology provider Synova, supporting the diamond group's strategy of developing technologies that enhanced the long-term value of its primary product.
Synova owned and supplied patented LMJ technology that had the potential to help diamantaires achieve higher yields, reduce the risk of damage to stress slopes and generate higher throughput owing to faster cutting time and easier processing.
De Beers outlined that it planned to work with Synova to develop a fully automated shaping technology with LMJ at its core, which would offer further efficiencies to the cutting and polishing business.
De Beers CEO Phillipe Mellier said as efficiency became more important for diamantaires, the new cutting technology had the potential to play an important role in the industry.