Ceramic and glass business news of the week for October 26, 2020

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

First mixed PV-wind connection at private substation in France

French solar company Sun’R Power and Canadian wind-power specialist Boralex revealed plans to connect part of the Cambrai-Niergnies solar project and the Seuil du Cambrésis wind farm to a single private substation.

Largest solar plant in Southeast Asia begins operating in Vietnam

The 450 megawatt Trung Nam Thuan Nam Solar Power Plant, which spreads over an area of nearly 560 hectares in Thuan Nam District, went on stream October 19. Built by Ho Chi Minh City-based energy firm Trungnam Group at a cost of VND12 trillion ($518 million), it has a plant that can produce over one billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.

Canada investing $20M in Terrestrial Energy to support molten salt reactor development

Canada is investing $20 million in Terrestrial Energy to accelerate development of the company’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor power plant. This investment is the first such investment from the Strategic Innovation Fund announcing support for a small modular reactor.

Ardagh’s upgraded German glass plant features Heye technologies

Ardagh Group’s Germersheim glass production facility in south west Germany was the subject of a substantial investment in recent months. One of the facility’s two melting furnaces was completely rebuilt, and some of the glass container industry’s most advanced manufacturing technologies were purchased.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Glass Technology Services and collaborators secure robotics funding

Glass Technology Services, working alongside partners I3D Robotics and Lucideon, were awarded funding to develop intelligent robotic systems to improve production processes within the energy-intensive foundation industries.

Cyient, SR University ink MoU to develop industry-oriented curriculum

Global engineering and technology solutions company Cyient signed a memorandum of understanding with Warangal-based SR University. Cyient will help the university develop an industry-oriented curriculum focused on advanced manufacturing systems.

University of Maryland enters into research partnership with US Army

The U.S. Army launched a five-year cooperative agreement with the University of Maryland at College Park. The alliance will focus on additive manufacturing science to foster and accelerate cutting-edge foundational additive manufacturing materials and technology development to advance hybrid materials research capabilities.

UW Oshkosh, Agra Energy bring biofuel technology to dairy farms

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh partnered with Agra Energy Corp. to promote a new technology that converts biogas to fuel. They are also pursuing research and development opportunities through underlying grants to provide students with career preparation and pathways to employment in the engineering and renewable energy sectors.

Penn State, University of Freiburg to deepen ties at Virtual Materials Day

The Pennsylvania State University and University of Freiburg will showcase their close collaboration in the field of living materials during the upcoming Materials Day on November 10–11. Materials Day is an annual event organized by Materials Research Institute to highlight materials-related interdisciplinary science, engineering research at Penn State.

OTHER STORIES

Webinar: Energy efficiency in glassmaking

The next Glass International webinar on energy efficiency in glassmaking will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. Eastern. The webinar will focus on three technologies that examine new ways in which glass manufacturers can save on energy costs.

ceramitec postponed until June 2022

ceramitec 2021 is postponed to June 21–24, 2022. The postponement was decided at the proposal of the Exhibitors’ Advisory Board of ceramitec and is due to trade fair policy reasons.

drupa preview starts October 27 with panel discussion, live web sessions

The new digital platform drupa preview will be opened October 27 at 10 a.m. Central European time. A panel discussion will present the new platform and address the current situation in the industry, and afterwards companies and speakers will present topics in live web sessions.

glasstec VIRTUAL strengthens glasstec’s position as leading trade fair for global glass sector

From October 20–22, glasstec VIRTUAL successfully bridged the time until the upcoming glasstec trade fair in June 2021 in Düsseldorf, Germany. More than 10,000 experts from over 110 countries took advantage of the glasstec VIRTUAL platform.

Air Products donates $15,000 to encourage young ceramic, glass professionals

The Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation and The Glass Manufacturing Industry Council received a $15,000 grant from the Air Products Foundation to foster innovation by the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals. CGIF will use its portion to expand the Foundation’s student outreach programs while GMIC will use its portion to support college-age engineering students who wish to participate in the Virtual Conference on Glass Problems.

Hallam launches unique materials science technologist degree apprenticeship

Sheffield Hallam University launched a new materials science technologist degree apprenticeship, the first of its kind in the U.K. The University is also launching two newly revalidated degree apprenticeships in electrical and electronic, and mechanical engineering.

MTC invests in XJet Carmel 1400C to bolster UK industry’s ceramic AM capability

XJet Ltd. announced that the Manufacturing Technology Centre will add XJet NanoParticle Jetting technology to its portfolio of additive manufacturing technologies at its facility in Coventry, U.K. The Carmel system has been shipped and is scheduled to go live in the coming few months.

Poland agrees to buy $18 billion in nuclear power technology from U.S. companies

The United States and Poland struck a nuclear power agreement in which Poland will likely buy $18 billion in nuclear technology from U.S. companies, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette says the reactors would help lessen Poland’s dependence on Russia for energy security.

MARKET TRENDS

NPCA, PCI clarify certification requirements for products and structures

The National Precast Concrete Association and the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute issued a joint document to alleviate marketplace confusion regarding certification programs for precast and prestressed concrete products. The document allows specifiers to easily determine whether products require NPCA or PCI certification, or if either is allowable.

NEW PRODUCTS

Versatile vacuum oil quench furnace system

Gasbarre Thermal Processing Systems announced the recent commissioning of a vacuum oil quench furnace, which included 2 BAR gas quench capabilities, to an international manufacturer. The batch system is capable of processing 12” wide by 12” high by 36” long loads weighing up to 500 pounds, and is rated to 3000°F.