De Beers Takes Stake in Laser Micro-jet Tech Provider

Mining Weekly reported that diamond giant De Beers has acquired a 33.4-percent stake in Synova, a Swiss laser micro-jet (LMJ) technology provider. According to the news outlet, the move supports De Beers’ goal of “developing technologies that enhanced the long-term value of its primary product.”

As quoted in the market news:

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.

Click here to read the full Mining Weekly report.