When did you join RCK and where are you based?
I joined RCK in May 2022 and am based in our Düsseldorf office in Germany. You may however meet me in several other countries in Europe, North America, or Asia during one of my many conference attendances.

What specific projects or initiatives have you been involved in recently?
My current focus is to finalize binding feedstock supply agreements for our Guben converter, which will be an important step forward towards FID.

What makes RCK a great place to work at?
RCK’s business is truly global, and our team is highly motivated to jointly achieve our vision. Working here I continue to learn every day and it is amazing to be building a business involving so many different cultures.

Tell us something about yourself outside the workplace.
Outside RCK I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and our two sons.

The post Meet Mirco appeared first on Rock Tech Lithium.

Finding lithium in trees? Rock Tech is collecting the tree bark and twigs of black spruce trees on their site near Thunder Bay, Ontario. David Benson, Rock Tech’s Exploration Manager and Lead Geologist explains why.

„`Why is Rock Tech collecting samples of black spruce trees?„`

David: Trees take up metals through their root systems, via water, and the metal enrichment can be found in the bark, twigs and leaves. The black spruce is especially good as it has been shown to ‘soak’ up metals very effectively and coincidentally is by far the most abundant tree in the Canadian boreal forest. While we could never ‘harvest’ lithium from trees, they can serve as an indicator of where spodumene-bearing pegmatites – which contain lithium- are in the ground. We look for areas where assays from the biogeochemical samples are anomalously high to pinpoint areas for focused advanced exploration.

„`Biogeochemistry sounds complex – how do this testing work?„`

It is actually quite simple. We start by systematically taking samples of organic matter, in this case tree bark and twigs from black spruce trees, at designated intervals. For example, I set up lines for the sampling team to walk through the bush and take samples either every 25 or 50 meters. This is obviously most effective where the area is densely forested.

„`How reliable is this method?„`

There are many components that go into successful exploration surveying but this has been proven very successful over the years for identifying gold, copper, and nickel. In 2022, geologists from the Government of Ontario completed test surveys at Georgia Lake and neighboring lithium deposits and it worked. Samples of the bark and twigs directly over known spodumene-bearing pegmatites showed anomalously high results for Lithium as compared to samples with no known spodumene-bearing pegmatites.

„`Why would Rock Tech choose to use this over other methods?„`

Most of the Georgia Lake Property is covered by soils, swamps, lakes and rivers with only about 15% of the land area where the underlying rocks appear at surface. We will use biogeochemistry, along with geophysics, soil chemistry and remote sensing in concert to identify potential new deposits. Once new targets are identified, we can focus and advance our exploration efforts very efficiently to evaluate and discover new orebodies.

„`What are the implications of using this biogeochemical test for the exploration at Georgia Lake and Boston Lake?„`

Biogeochemical is just another method used in exploration. We will use this data, along with other methodologies such as geophysics and remote sensing to determine if an area has high potential for buried pegmatites. We cannot use the data from this area for any change in the resource model but possibly it will assist in determining areas for future drilling which can discover possible future resource areas. For instance, results may indicate a possible buried pegmatite that has dimensions of 200 meters length and 25 meters width. We would then design our drilling to evaluate this area.

„`Has Rock Tech already gotten the tests results back from the recent testings?„`

No results yet. But, once we get them, we will evaluate the the raw results and incorporate in to our geological models. We expect the results will contribute to any new future discoveries at Georgia and Boston Lake.

„`Thank you very much for taking the time, David.„`

The post Why a Lithium Company is Collecting Twigs appeared first on Rock Tech Lithium.

Henrik Wende is the first Guben native at Rock Tech. He left Lusatia early on and has lived around the world. But now he’s been drawn back home.

Sembten in Brandenburg. Not even 300 residents. But it’s only a stone’s throw to the town of Guben on the German-Polish border. This is where Henrik Wende was born in 1979 and grew up. He eventually left home to see the world. He worked in Asia, Africa and America. He made a career in a global company. And now he’s back home…But let’s take this one step at a time.

It’s 1999. With his high school diploma in hand, Henrik asks himself the all-important question: So now what? At the time, Lower Lusatia is economically underdeveloped. High unemployment, meagre job prospects. Especially for young people in the region. Whoever can leave, does. So, it’s time to fill out some applications. Studying with a bit of hands-on experience would be nice.

„`Heading west with his girlfriend„

Three companies make the shortlist. In the end, the Hanover-based tire giant Continental wins out. Henrik feels welcome here right from the get-go. So, time to pack up and head to Lower Saxony. The big day arrives in September 2000. A dual work-study programme: three days at work and three days cramming at university. A six-day week. After two years, he has a new feather in his cap: a qualification as a process mechanic. Next comes two more years of full-time studies to earn an engineering degree. “That was a lot of hard work,” he says. “I’m glad that my then-girlfriend came with me to Hanover. She’s been a huge support and has often motivated me to stick things out.” The two get married in 2006.

„`Tough cookies wanted„`

As a freshly minted engineer, Henrik starts out in the tyre R&D department at Continental. His job: to make tyres better. This means tinkering, testing and testing again. To optimise the tyre design to make it go faster, hold better and wear less. From Hanover, it’s off into the wider world. To Mexico, the United States and South Africa – everywhere to drive innovation forward. After work, Henrik takes things up a notch – and earns a second degree as an industrial engineer. Can’t hurt.

And it definitely doesn’t. After all, to meet its ambitious targets, Continental needs real experts. The big goal is to eventually become the world’s No. 3 tyre maker. Right behind Bridgestone and

Michelin. So the management at the time is looking for colleagues who’ve already earned their spurs. People who can push ahead in uncharted territory. People who know how the business works.

Real tough cookies. People like Henrik.

„`Efficient in action: dive in and make it happen„`

Fresh start in Kaluga, Russia. A new factory is to be built. And Henrik is on the set-up team. He uses the opportunity to come up with a blueprint for investment planning for comparable greenfield projects around the world. So the next stop is China. A factory is to be expanded in Hefei, 500 kilometres west of Shanghai. New buildings and infrastructure, machines, equipment, IT and security for it all – the full package. “The project was the first time that I really felt like I was leaving my comfort zone,” Henrik says looking back. “The combination of the requirements from headquarters back in Germany and the local realities – it was really quite a challenge!”

But everything goes smoothly. The factory is built in record time – and several million under the planned budget to boot. The ingredients for success: teamwork, courage and passion. “At the time, we would joke on the team that we were like Navy Seals. Always the first on the beach. Off into the unknown, build something up from scratch, and get it going. And always with your heart and soul,” Henrik fondly recalls.

„`From construction noise and the smell of tyres back to his roots„`

The first tyres are just coming off the production line in Hefei – and the next challenge is already calling. Clinton, in the US state of Mississippi. That means: two burdens at once. Coordinating from two continents plus a seven-hour time difference. Henrik’s wife pulls the emergency brake. Something has to change. It’s a good thing that ContiTech is currently looking for reinforcements at its central plant engineering department in Hanover. Later, it’s back to the Tyre Division, where Henrik is in charge of the machine technology in 21 factories.

Late 2022. Henrik has over two decades with Conti under his belt – his entire working life to date. He has already been back in his hometown of Sembten since 2011. But does he also work from home – and in Lusatia? There’s never been a perfect fit. So he prefers to commute: to Hanover as well as to Russia, China and the US as well as in Europe. But it’s exhausting.

An acquaintance tells Henrik about Rock Tech. They plan to build a converter for lithium hydroxide. In Guben. When his boss then asks him why he wants to quit after all this time, Henrik replies:

“Remember what we used to say back then? ‘We’re like the Navy Seals. Always the first on the beach.’ I can do that again. But at home.”

His boss understands immediately. No more questions.

„`Giving his all for operability„`

After that, everything quickly falls into place. Today, Henrik is the Operation Readiness Manager at Rock Tech. His job is to make sure that the converter is operational. He is the man on the spot and the first point of contact for companies, service providers, officials and city representatives. For him, the job means coordinating industrial service providers, commissioning, organising and marshalling smaller local tradespeople, recruiting qualified personnel and setting up IT systems. Or, in short, getting Rock Tech up and running in Guben. Along with everything this entails.

In principle, it’s the same as always: precisely orchestrating all the tradespeople. And, of course, within the set schedule and within budget. “I haven’t regretted the move to Rock Tech, and I’m looking forward to everything that lies ahead now,” Henrik says. “It’s nice to be passionate again about building something up and putting my heart and soul into it.”

Picture by Andreas Franke

The post “Always the first on the beach” appeared first on Rock Tech Lithium.

There’s branding. And there’s industry communications. B2B, mostly. Which isn’t your usual hunting ground if you are into building brands. No consumers, no confetti. Right? So, Marketing wizards turn up their nose when asked to work for an industry player – who, truth be told, hardly come knocking at their door anyway. No exciting campaign to be expected here. No Cannes trophy needed.

But if you know a little about branding you know it’s not about entertainment, it’s about building trust. Branding makes a promise. And Strategy allows you to keep that promise. (There, I just snuck it in: Strategy really is the sharpest weapon in your arsenal – but that’s another post.) The point of good branding is to define why what you do matters, why it is relevant. Now, clean tech is truly relevant. We need to bring down our environmental footprint. And the real impact doesn’t lie with the final step of, say, assembling that car – but with everything that went into it. Somehow, though, this sounds right – but it doesn’t quite resonate. There’s no emotional link to batteries, let alone raw materials. There are no brands here, that might make a promise we care about.

And who’s we? The people that hide behind that abstract idea of stakeholders: the people at the company you want to sell to, those in the city hall offices you need by your side, the partners you wish would collaborate, the people, crucially, you want to employ. Summing up about 12 years of experience in hiring some outstanding talent for companies and ventures of various sizes: nothing, not a single incentive, can outweigh personal relevance. The sense of significance, of contributing to a relevant goal and giving direction and meaning to one’s own life story. For a B2B company to get that right, it needs to connect to a broader societal goal, and speak to us, your stakeholders: putting in the effort to break down the industry talk into plain sentences, making the processes transparent, connecting the dots. Instilling trust.

Interestingly, trust works in two ways: it is both defense and offense. Major brands have left customers feeling disappointed, if not betrayed by their lack of commitment to sustainability. And, referencing a talk by @usv, trust gaps create “startup-sized holes”.

Many amazing start-ups are redefining how we source and produce raw materials, how we run and power our factories, and how we account for every step of that value chain. It’s time to focus on the process rather than on the consumer good. And for branding to help the next generation of industry players to speak up and to relay their promise: of paving our way to carbon neutrality. I, for one, can see few Marketing challenges more exciting in our times.

The post No consumers, no confetti? Why branding matters in Clean Tech. And why it’s time to focus on the process, not the product. appeared first on Rock Tech Lithium.