Betolar's growing patent portfolio creates future business value in the utilization of new sidestream materials

Betolar Plc

Company Release/Inside Information

9.6.2022 at 09:45 AM EET

Betolar's growing patent portfolio creates future business value in the utilization of new sidestream materials

The materials technology company Betolar has been granted a patent for a method and arrangement for treating and converting waste material into a reinforcing binder. In the future, the binder can be utilised commercially. Hence it creates value for the waste material now generating costs.

Betolar has carried out an assessment that as the patent family expands, it will be able to leverage the invention in its business to the international mining industry. The strengthening patent portfolio is expected to increase the company's value in the long term through business development. The patent is not expected to have a immediate impact on Betolar's business results.

In the mining industry, the recovery and enrichment of metals generate globally large amounts of metallic effluent, sludge, and dregs, which are in many ways cumbersome to handle and risky for environmental safety. The treatment and storage of waste materials in mining areas also require massive storage pools.

The method developed and patented by Betolar heat-treats the waste material generated in the bioleaching process, causing it to become a reactive substance with a binder potential. It can be made into a reinforcing binder by a simple treatment to solidify and stabilize the end use waste material.

“Our invention relates to a method by which wastewater, sludge and dregs can be treated and utilized, for example, in a mining area. Waste materials, such as gypsum sludge can also be used in other construction applications which will be of great value to Betolar's business in the future,” says Juha Leppänen, Betolar's Chief Innovation Officer

The advantage of the patented solution is that the fractions and precipitates formed in the treatment of wastewater can be solidified simply and cost-effectively. Hardened materials can be stored in piles and holes. The use of such above-ground storage and disposal sites allows for space and cost savings. Above all, it is safer for the environment.

Placing liquid and sludge waste materials in tanks incurs costs throughout the life cycle of the tanks. Storage requires substantial investment in the storage pools as well as continuous monitoring and maintenance of the condition of the pools. The economic benefits arise from the reduction in investment and maintenance costs associated with the pools. In addition, value is created for the binder used elsewhere.

Betolar's patent portfolio is rapidly strengthening

Betolar is a materials technology company. Research and development is an important business area for its success. Product development produces new inventions that generate new innovations for business needs. In connection with the company's normal product development, innovations are created that, at best, lead to new value-added, patentable solutions for business needs.

“The ability to produce new solutions for the utilization of sidestreams is essential to the functioning of our ecosystem. Betolar has a rapidly growing patent portfolio considering its age. We have already obtained approved patents for five inventions of ours,” says Leppänen. Betolar has another five inventions in the process of approving a patent.

In line with Betolar's IPR strategy, the primary purpose of the patents is to secure the business that is based on the material technology solutions of Betolar and its customers. Therefore, the patent portfolio is also expected to be a significant component of the company's valuation.

Betolar Plc
Communications

More information:

Matti Löppönen, CEO, Betolar Plc, tel. +358 50 306 6335, matti.lopponen@betolar.com
Riikka Ylikoski, CFO, Betolar Plc, tel. +358 40 828 2632, riikka.ylikoski@betolar.com

Certified Advisor:

Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) Helsinki Branch, tel. +358 9 6162 8000

About Betolar Plc

Betolar Plc is a Finnish materials technology company that offers the production of sustainable and low-carbon concrete with the Geoprime® solution. The solution converts several previously unused high-volume industrial side streams into a substitute for cement.

Betolar's innovation can significantly reduce CO2 emissions at a competitive cost compared to conventional cement-based concrete manufacturing, leveraging the existing manufacturing processes. Betolar’s mission is to enable the green transformation of various industries globally, especially in the construction, process and energy industries by providing solutions to utilise its unique materials technology.

Betolar was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Kannonkoski, Finland. Betolar is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market. https://www.betolar.com/