For more than forty-one years, Ceramic Technology, Inc. (CTI) has developed proprietary ceramic process equipment designed to solve one of the mining industry's most expensive challenges: abrasion, erosion, impact wear, and premature equipment failure 
Founded in 1985 by Lee Osborne, CTI has evolved from a regional engineering company into a recognized innovator in ceramic-lined process equipment serving the coal, gold, phosphate, mineral processing, and power generation industries. Through the development of the CTI-X7® Performance Standard, CTI has established a reputation for increasing plant reliability, reducing maintenance costs, and extending equipment life far beyond conventional wear solutions White Paper 04.22.2022
Today CTI represents an opportunity to acquire:
· A recognized performance brand
· Proprietary engineering designs
· Valuable intellectual property
· Established customer relationships
· Proven manufacturing capability
· Expansion opportunities in critical minerals and lithium processing
· Founder-supported management transition
The CTI-X7® Difference
Most wear equipment suppliers compete on equipment price.
CTI competes on operational performance.
Our philosophy has always been simple:
Production is more valuable than replacement.
For decades, mining operations have accepted equipment replacement schedules measured in months. CTI challenged that thinking by redesigning process equipment around advanced ceramic technologies and engineering principles that dramatically extend operating life while reducing maintenance requirements.
The result became the CTI-X7® Performance Standard.
This performance-based approach has delivered service life improvements measured in years rather than months while reducing operational interruptions and unscheduled shutdowns.
The true value of CTI-X7® is not ceramic alone. The value lies in the engineering knowledge, design methodology, and field experience accumulated through more than four decades of solving wear-related process challenges throughout North America.
Engineering Expertise as the Core Asset
CTI is far more than a manufacturer.
We are an engineering-driven process optimization company.
Over four decades, our team has accumulated extensive expertise in:
· Heavy media cyclone systems
· Slurry transport pipe
· Process chutes
· Ceramic impact elbows
· Feed systems
· Hoppers
· Sumps
· Screen feed assemblies
· High-impact wear applications
This engineering capability allows CTI to identify wear mechanisms, redesign equipment, increase reliability, and improve process performance.
The most valuable asset of CTI is not machinery or real estate. It is the proprietary engineering knowledge developed through thousands of successful applications across North America.
CTI-X7® Heavy Media Cyclone Technology
The CTI-X7® Heavy Media Cyclone is the flagship product of the company.
Developed through decades of operational experience, the CTI-X7® cyclone system has become recognized as a performance standard within the coal preparation and mineral processing industries.
The cyclone is often the heart of a preparation plant.
As cyclone performance deteriorates, plant efficiency suffers, maintenance increases, and production losses occur.
The CTI-X7® approach focuses on:
· Extending equipment life
· Maintaining design geometry
· Improving process consistency
· Reducing maintenance requirements
· Increasing overall plant reliability
This focus on processing performance rather than component replacement has positioned CTI as a trusted engineering partner, not merely an equipment supplier.
Intellectual Property and Technology Development
CTI has built an expanding intellectual property portfolio including patents, trademarks, and proprietary designs related to:
· Ceramic process equipment
· Ceramic impact elbows
· Adjustable static screen technology
· Smart impact panels
· Wear monitoring systems
More importantly, CTI is transitioning beyond traditional mechanical equipment into smart process technology.
Recent developments include embedded wear-monitoring systems that can communicate liner condition directly to plant operators.
This technology creates opportunities for:
· Predictive maintenance
· Improved reliability
· Reduced shutdowns
· Enhanced operational planning
· Reduced environmental risk
These developments position CTI to participate in the broader industrial trend toward intelligent process equipment and digital plant operations.
Positioned for Critical Mineral Expansion
Historically, CTI has served:
· Coal
· Gold
· Phosphate
· Industrial minerals
· Coal-fired power generation
Today, the same technologies that transformed wear performance in those industries are increasingly applicable to:
· Lithium processing
· Rare earth minerals
· Battery materials
· Critical mineral production
As North America expands domestic supply chains for strategic minerals, CTI's proven solutions are well positioned to support the next generation of mineral processing facilities.
This represents one of the most significant growth opportunities in the company's history.
Manufacturing Infrastructure
CTI's headquarters and manufacturing operations are located in Cedar Bluff, Virginia.
The company currently operates from:
· Eleven acres of industrial property
· 22,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities
· Established engineering and fabrication capabilities
In addition, expansion plans have already been developed for an additional 22,000 square feet of production space.
The existing infrastructure provides a platform for future growth without requiring significant relocation or redevelopment.
Leadership Team
CTI's success has been built by a dedicated management team whose collective experience spans engineering, manufacturing, operations, accounting, and customer service.
Key leadership members include:
· William Farley, Vice President of Design and Operations
· Geneva Lambert, Human Resources & Sales Support
· Keith Witt, Production/Shop Foreman
· Joyce Beavers, Finance Officer
· Jeni Osborne, Accounts Payable, Fraud Attempts, and Safety Compliance
This experienced team provides continuity and operational stability for future growth opportunities.
Strategic Partnership Opportunity
As founder of CTI, I have spent more than fifty years in the mining and mineral processing industries.
While I remain committed to supporting the business and its customers, I recognize that the next stage of growth may be achieved through association with a larger organization possessing:
· A professional sales organization
· Expanded market reach
· Greater capital resources
· Broader customer access
· Complementary strategic capabilities
CTI has developed the technology, engineering expertise, and operational foundation necessary for continued growth.
A strategic partner can accelerate that growth.
The opportunity is not to acquire a fabrication business.
The opportunity is to acquire a proven process-performance platform with established intellectual property, respected industry credibility, and significant expansion potential.
Vision for the Future
We believe in the combination of:
· Proven technology
· Critical mineral expansion
· Enhanced sales coverage
· Strategic partnerships
· Intelligent equipment development
create a realistic pathway toward $10 million plus in annual revenue over the next two years.
The future of mining and mineral processing will increasingly depend upon performance, reliability, automation, and operational efficiency.
For more than four decades, CTI has focused on exactly those objectives.
The CTI-X7® Performance Standard represents not only our history, but our future.
Lee Osborne
Founder & President
Ceramic Technology, Inc.
Cedar Bluff, Virginia 24609
17 tons of liner fabrication per 111 and 112 scrubbers
