United States Antimony Corporation (NYSE: UAMY) has started commissioning its new antimony smelter at Thompson Falls, firing up the first of nine gas-fired furnaces in May. The company expects five furnaces to be commissioned by the end of this week, with all nine furnaces operational by month end.

The company is working through minor issues during the commissioning process, applying fixes and modifications daily to each new furnace. Additional internal parts and heat exchangers from third-party contractors are expected to arrive over the coming weeks to complete the facility.

Management has decided to defer renovation of the existing smelter facility at Thompson Falls until 2027 to allow higher production volumes from both facilities during fiscal 2026. This decision aims to meet demand from industrial and military customers.

The Department of War awarded United States Antimony $27 million on March 5, 2026, to fund the expansion project. The company has received $12.9 million in milestone payments to date.

Jeff Fink, Vice President and managing engineer of the expansion, said the project began planning in May of last year using customized equipment rather than off-the-shelf components. The new operation includes 300% capacity increase per furnace, improved thermal efficiency, reduced labor per ton, and lower emissions compared to existing operations.

When both facilities reach full capacity, the company will operate fifteen furnaces total, increasing output by three to four times historical production levels. United States Antimony produces antimony oxide, antimony metal, and antimony trisulfide, along with precious metals recovery and zeolite processing.