Ceramic and glass business news of the week for November 9, 2020

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Tanzania finalizing permit for its first rare-earth metals mine

Tanzania is in the final stages of approving a permit for the country’s first rare earths mine to Australian company Peak Resources Ltd. as the government seeks a bigger share of revenue from natural resources. The state is also finalizing a gold-mining license for another Australian company, OreCorp Ltd., at the Nyanzaga project in the northwest of the country.

Canada invests in its first floating tidal energy array

Canada on Thursday announced one of its largest-ever investments in tidal energy—$28.5 million to Sustainable Marine in Nova Scotia to deliver Canada’s first floating tidal energy array. According to the government, the objective of the project is to provide up to nine megawatts of predictable and clean renewable electricity to Nova Scotia’s electrical grid.

New concrete plant coming to south Florida county

A new manufacturing plant, called Bautech USA, is taking shape in Okeechobee County, Florida. It is a multimillion dollar investment that has been at least three years in the making. The first project is set to begin in January.

Alphaglass plots €37 million furnace rebuild at Arques glass manufacturing site

Saverglass factory Alphaglass is planning a €37 million furnace rebuild at its Arques facility in northern France. The investment will also include an eighth production line and will increase capacity by 20%.

Glass product production plant proposed for Pine Forest area in Florida

Florida Glass Co. LLC filed a $1.2 million building permit for a proposed 31,250-square-foot manufacturing plant near the Pine Forest area in Florida. The permit specifies the one-story building would house a fabrication area for cutting glass and assembling insulating glass.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Renewables leader Statkraft boosts solar capability with the acquisition of Solarcentury

Statkraft, Europe’s largest producer of renewable energy, signed an agreement to acquire the solar pioneer Solarcentury. Statkraft will gain access to a 6 GW pipeline (gross) in Europe and South America.

Skyline Renewables acquires 250MW solar project in Texas

Skyline Renewables acquired the 250MW Galloway solar project in Central West Texas from 8minute Solar Energy for an undisclosed sum. Backed by the French private equity investment company Ardian, Skyline Renewables will finance and manage the construction of Galloway solar project.

Australia to establish directed-energy technology network

The Australian Department of Defence’s research and development agency is setting up a national network to focus on advancements in directed-energy technologies. The initiative was revealed in documents issued by the Australian government’s tender portal in late October.

3D Systems and VHA sign contract for additively manufactured devices

3D Systems entered a contract with the Veterans Health Administration to deploy additive manufacturing solutions to provide veterans with next-generation medical devices produced at the point of care. 

OTHER STORIES

ACI Concrete Conference on Sustainability & Durability taking place November 16–17

The ACI Concrete Conference on Sustainability & Durability will take place virtually on Nov. 16–17, 2020. Hosted by the American Concrete Institute with support from the ACI UAE Chapter and the ACI Saudi Arabian Chapter, Eastern Province, this free two-day conference will focus on issues of interest to concrete professionals from the Middle East and beyond. 

The Advanced Materials Show and Ceramics UK will now take place in December

Due to the ongoing and developing situation regarding COVID-19, Event Partners made the decision to move The Advanced Materials Show and Ceramics UK and their co-located events Battery Cells & Systems Expo and Vehicle Electrification Expo to Dec. 2–3, 2020.

OPF Enterprises launches new division focused on industrial waste challenges

Manufacturing consultant OPF Enterprises launched a new division called IntoCeramics that focuses on finding pathways for turning industrial waste streams into valuable materials for ceramic products. Learn more about the new division here.

Peltsman Corporation in Minnesota is for sale

Michael Peltsman of Peltsman Corporation is retiring and offers Peltsman Corporation and its assets for sale. The company designs and manufactures low pressure molding machines and mixers, which have been sold to 25 countries. Please send inquiries to mp@pelcor.com.

Tecnoglass announces new $300 million credit facility

Tecnoglass Inc., a manufacturer of architectural glass, windows, and associated aluminum products, entered into a new $300 million Senior Secured Credit Facility, consisting of a $250 million delayed draw term loan and a $50 million committed revolving credit facility, with a maturity date in 2025.

Dimecc launches ecosystem to advance additive manufacturing in Finland

Dimecc Ltd., an innovation platform for the manufacturing industry located in Helsinki, Finland, launched an industrial ecosystem called the Finnish Additive Manufacturing Ecosystem (FAME) that it expects to increase the role of additive manufacturing in the country.

FEVE’s ‘Furnace for the Future’ project gathers momentum

The European Container Glass Federation’s “Furnace for the Future” project has taken a step forward after a dossier was sent to the European Commission to help fund the project. The project brings together European container glass manufacturers to build the world’s first large-scale hybrid electric furnace to run on 80% green electricity.

MARKET TRENDS

Glass shortage threatens solar panels needed for climate fix

Prices for glass that coats photovoltaic panels have risen 71% since July, and manufacturers are struggling to produce it fast enough to keep more than a week’s worth of sales in inventory, according to Daiwa Capital Markets. The shortage comes as the solar industry turns toward bifacial panels, which increase both power output and glass requirements.

Overseas companies take dominant role in Japan’s renewable energy

A Nikkei Asia article looks at how foreign companies have taken over Japan’s renewable-energy markets, with European players carving out an overwhelmingly large chunk of the wind-energy sector while China has a quickly growing presence in solar panels.

NEW PRODUCTS

Price increase for industrial ground calcium carbonate

Huber Carbonates, LLC, a subsidiary of J.M. Huber Corporation, announced a price increase for its industrial calcium carbonate products generally ranging from 5–9%.  The increase is effective Jan. 1, 2021, or as current contracts allow. The price increase does not apply to Huber’s food and USP calcium carbonate grades.

Antimicrobial glass ready for launch

A coated glass product called Pilkington SaniTise, designed by the NSG Group to help reduce the transmission of microbes via surfaces in shared spaces and public transport, is ready for launch after its antimicrobial properties were verified through independent third party testing.

Diamonds grown from the sky

Dale Vince, the founder of green energy supplier Ecotricity, claims to have developed the world’s only diamonds to be made from carbon, water, and energy sourced directly from the elements at a “sky mining facility” in Stroud, United Kingdom.