Replies to post #97572 on Liquidmetal Technologies Inc (LQMT)

[Goatyak]

I wonder if Eontec has machines that do what Engel machines do but are simpler and cheaper. The Engel machines might be too expensive to use.

[joshuaeyu]

1. Does Eontec use Engel machines, or they use their own machines?

For injection molding, nobody (including Eontec) can use Engel (or guts of) machine without CIP authorization. Until Li close the deal, it is "on hold" technically.

For die-casting, Eontec has been collecting revenues for more than two years using their own formulation (Liquidmorphium)

According to Steip, LQMT formulation (via Materion) does not work on Eontec die-cast machine while Liquidmorphium works flawlessly on Engel machine.

Of course, there is this Eontec-500C machine (still shown at Eontec website) that seems to match what they have just patent published as the "2 in 1" machine. There is no public info about who owns the technology of "injection molding" part of the machine.

2. If they don't use Engel machines, Engel machines would be used to service North America and Europe only with Liquidmetal?

For North America and Europe, there is nothing prohibiting LQMT upon using Eontec machinery for both die-cast and inejection molding

3. Which machinery is more advanced and has more capabilities, Eontec or Engel? Thought I recently saw that Eontec is able to make large sheets.

It is kinda apple and oranges. Eontec has been in die-cast production for much longer duration while Engel machine has just been doing mostly "proto" for injection molding

4. If Apple's next phone uses BMG, is Catcher Technology kicked to the curb, or Catcher would manufacture product for NA and EU using Engel machines?

It is not obvious to me what Apple (if they adopt BMG) would use for production technology. For high precision pieces it must utilize injection molding while some other pieces can utilize die-cast for bigger size.

According to Eontec PR, they are highly motivated to "outsource" their technology and machinery to third party such as Catcher.

Note territory legal ownership is different for LQMT vs Eontec formulation. It is rather complicated and contains all kind of entanglement. I suspect this will be resolved between Apple/LQMT/Eontec.