Hitachi Metals Ltd. filed a complaint with a U.S. trade commission Tuesday, claiming Chinese manufacturers stole secret processes for making amorphous metal ribbon that's lighter and stronger than traditional steel.
China's Advanced Technology & Materials Co. and related companies ramped up production of the metal thanks to secret manufacturing processes stolen by a retired Hitachi Metals employee and his assistant, Hitachi Metals and its Metglas unit said in a complaint lodged with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington. They are asking that imports of all China-made versions of the product be halted at the U.S. border.
The amorphous metal ribbons are an alloy with glass-like qualities. Because it has high strength and improved magnetic abilities, it's used in medical devices in place of titanium, to create stealth vehicles, and for high-efficiency transformers.