Ceramic and glass business news of the week for March 1, 2021

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

BELECTRIC wins contract to construct three solar farms in the Netherlands

After the “Hof van Twente” (more than 9 MW) and “Hoogeveen” solar farms (approx. 24 MW) were commissioned on schedule last year, German solar power specialist BELECTRIC secured the next large contract in the Netherlands. They are building three PV plants with a total installed capacity of 57 MW on behalf of Kronos Solar.

Mkango commences pilot plant processing of bulk sample from Malawi-based project

Mkango Resources Ltd. announced the commencement of flotation pilot plant test work for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths project in Malawi. The selection and piloting of the flotation processing flowsheet is an integral part of the feasibility study and a critical step toward commercialization of the Songwe project.

TimkenSteel to ‘indefinitely idle’ some melting, casting operations in Canton

TimkenSteel Corp. plans to “indefinitely idle” the melt and cast assets at its Harrison facility in Canton, Ohio, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company’s melting and casting operations will instead take place at its Faircrest location, also in Canton, and the rolling and finishing operations at Harrison will not be affected.

Bormioli opens new glass research center

Bormioli Pharma opened a new glass research center at the headquarters of the Institute of Materials for Electronics and Magnetism, National Research Council. Bormioli Pharma will conduct analyses on the chemico-physical characteristics of its glass bottles and will promote research programs to identify alternative formulations and surface treatments.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Longroad acquires 900 MW US solar portfolio from First Solar

U.S.-based renewable energy developer Longroad Energy agreed to acquire solar projects with a total capacity of 900 MW from First Solar. Along with the three projects that include Sun Streams 2, 4, and 5, the transaction also includes potential for 1–2 GWh of battery storage.

Diatex S.p.A. acquires 70% of Mec Abrasives

The SITI-B&T Group, a supplier of technology and complete plants serving the world of ceramics, signed through its subsidiary Diatex S.p.A. a binding agreement for the acquisition of 70% of the company shares of Mec Abrasives, a company that is active in the production of abrasives for the lapping of ceramic products.

O2TODAY and SINTX Technologies enter commercialization agreement to fight COVID-19

O2TODAY, a mask company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes face masks for medical and nonmedical uses, and SINTX Technologies, Inc., an original equipment manufacturer of silicon nitride ceramics, entered into a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement to integrate SINTX’s silicon nitride into a consumer mask.

Rio Tinto, Paul Wurth, and SHS partner on low-carbon iron feedstock for steel

Rio Tinto, Paul Wurth S.A., and SHS-Stahl-Holding-Saar GmbH & Co. KGaA signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the viability of transforming iron ore pellets into low-carbon hot briquetted iron (a steel feedstock) using green hydrogen generated from hydro-electricity in Canada.

NMSU partners with SecureAmerica Institute for research, workforce development

New Mexico State University joined the SecureAmerica Institute as a founding member. SAI is a private-public partnership that converges technology, economics, and policy to enable a secure and resilient United States manufacturing and industrial base, and it is led by Texas A&M University’s Engineering Experiment Station.

TransGrid, EnergyLab partnership accelerates energy tech innovation

TransGrid and EnergyLab are joining forces to identify and develop the best new energy technology talent across Australia and New Zealand. They will use the relationships formed in the EnergyLab Scaleup Program to identify and develop new solutions to providing energy. Companies can apply before March 8 at https://energylab.org.au/programs/scaleup.

Shanghai Electric and Pacific Green to manufacture battery storage systems

Shanghai Electric Guoxuan New Energy Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with Pacific Green Technologies for the manufacturing of battery energy storage systems. U.S.-based Pacific Green Technologies, through its subsidiary Pacific Green Energy Storage Technology, will oversee project implementation.

Glass recycling pilot advances in Pennsylvania

Prism Glass Recycling developed a drop-off pilot program for glass recycling in Erie County, Pa., through a public-private partnership between the Erie County Recycling program, the Erie Area Council of Governments, CAP Glass Recycling, and the Glass Recycling Foundation.

OTHER STORIES

Virtual public release: The impact of COVID-19 on the careers of women in STEMM

On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the National Academies is holding a public release for the consensus study report, The Impact of COVID-19 on the Careers of Women in Academic Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The report explores how the pandemic disrupted careers of women in academic STEMM and considers how it might shape future progress.

Tanzanian container glass manufacturer obtains $10 million loan

Tanzanian container glass manufacturer Kioo obtained a $10 million loan from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, to help it weather COVID-19 related challenges and to invest in more energy-efficient machinery. Kioo employs 600 people and supplies glass containers to 12 countries on the African continent, as well as to countries in the Indian Ocean.

Launch of a “Partner Network” to capture the sexual harassment prevention efforts

The National Academies Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education launched a Partner Network to include a range of higher education-focused organizations in sharing their work to prevent and address sexual harassment across all disciplines and among all people in higher education.

MARKET TRENDS

US manufacturers grapple with steel shortages, soaring prices

Steel is in short supply in the United States, and prices are surging. Unfilled orders for steel in the last quarter were at the highest level in five years, while inventories were near a 3-1/2-year low, according to data from the Census Bureau. The benchmark price for hot-rolled steel hit $1,176/ton in February, its highest level in at least 13 years.

NEW PRODUCTS

JEOL: New configuration of its broad ion beam milling cross section polisher

JEOL USA introduced a new configuration of its bestselling broad ion beam milling instrument, the Cross-section Polisher. The upgraded configuration includes high-speed milling, sputter coating, cryo-preparation (down to LN₂ temperature), and air-isolated transfer for atmosphere sensitive specimens (for example, lithium batteries).