Thanks for your reply. I don't suppose the image relates to the...

Thanks for your reply. 

I don't suppose the image relates to the pilot plant used for the vapour deposition.

The capital outlay and maintenance of a production plant would contribute to the cost of partial substitution of vapour deposition for rare earths. 

I would expect that they will have a patent application for the method. This could possibly prevent its use by others, eg,USA in particular, which may alter the economics of vapour deposition outside China, given the US concern about strategic materials and the politics of the relationship between the two. 

Of course, the US will also be working on methods to reduce the use of rare earths.