Ceramic and glass business news of the week for April 12, 2021

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Borosil Renewables to invest Rs 500 Cr to double solar glass manufacturing

Borosil Renewables has plans for doubling its capacity of solar glass manufacturing to 900 tonnes per day with an investment of Rs 500 crore. The new plant should be up and running by July 2022. This is the second doubling of its capacity in the past five years.

Taiwan Cement announces NT$10 billion investment for super battery factory

Taiwan Cement’s board of directors recently passed a resolution to invest up to NT$10 billion (US$350 million) to build a super battery factory in Kaohsiung, the largest city in southern Taiwan. This factory is Taiwan’s first large-size energy storage project.

First glimpse of Photocentric’s 3D printing center of excellence in Peterborough

The metal framework has started going up on a state-of-the-art center for 3D printing specialists Photocentric in Peterborough, England. The 5,500-square-meter center will feature 1,275-square-meters for three state-of-the-art print farms for industrial parts, dental aligners, and ceramics.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

TechnipFMC and Bombora to develop a floating wave and wind power project

TechnipFMC, a global leader in the energy industry, and Bombora, a leading wave energy technology company, formed a strategic partnership to develop a floating wave and wind power project. With engineering work initiated in November 2020, the partnership is developing a hybrid system using Bombora’s mWave technology.

Corning and Samsung Display extend long-term investment relationship

Corning Incorporated announced the next phase in its long-term relationship with Samsung Display Co., Ltd., an investor since 2014. Samsung Display will convert all of its preferred shares to common, which represents approximately 13% of Corning’s common shares on an as-converted basis.

Questerre and ZEG Power sign letter of intent for blue hydrogen

Questerre Energy Corporation announced a letter of intent with ZEG Power AS, a private Norwegian company, to evaluate their proprietary leading edge blue hydrogen technology for the company’s Clean Tech Energy project in Quebec.

OTHER STORIES

Trends in Nanotechnology International Conference: Abstract submission due by June 18

The 21st edition of Trends in Nanotechnology International Conference takes place Oct. 4–8, 2021, in Tirana, Albania. This meeting series aims to present a broad range of current research in nanoscience and nanotechnology as well as related policies or other kinds of initiatives. Abstract submission to the conference is due by June 18, 2021.

MicroNanoConference 2021: Registration opens May 2021

The International MicroNanoConference brings together science and industry to showcase how micro- and nanotechnology help address societal challenges. The conference takes place Dec. 2–3, 2021, in Utrecht, Netherlands. Registration opens May 2021.

ACI updates its guide for shotcrete pros

Twelve years since its last revision, the American Concrete Institute updated its guide for shotcrete professionals to reflect current industry standards. Chapters cover equipment and materials, preparation before shooting, placement principles and techniques, environmental conditions and precautions, and quality control, among other topics.

DNV publishes world’s first recommended practice for floating solar power plants

DNV, an independent energy expert and assurance provider, published the world’s first recommended practice for floating solar power projects following a collaborative joint industry project involving 24 industry participants.

World’s biggest solar company joins the hydrogen game

China’s Longi Green Energy Technology Co., the world’s biggest solar company, is entering the hydrogen market. Company founder and president Li Zhenguo said a combination of solar and storage would be the cheapest form of energy in most nations globally by the end of the decade.

Opposition wins elections in Greenland, casting doubt on future of rare-earth mine

In a recent election, voters in Greenland gave the Inuit Ataqatigiit party won 37% of the vote, compared with 29% for the ruling social-democratic Siumut party. Inuit Ataqatigiit, or “Community of the People,” had campaigned against the Kvanefjeld project, which is run by an Australian company that wants to extract uranium.

MARKET TRENDS

Solar and wind power could mitigate conflict in northeast Africa

A new study shows that several disagreements between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt around Africa’s largest hydropower plant, the new Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, could be alleviated by massively expanding solar and wind power across the region.

Solar glass manufacturers expecting slide in prices after record-breaking 2020

Analysis conducted by PV Tech expects that average selling prices of solar glass to fall over the course of 2021 as more capacity comes onstream, but high prices last year helped send profits soaring.

Mapping rare earths projects outside China

A Mining Technology article profiles some of the most prominent rare earth mining and processing projects outside of China, specifically in the United States and Australia.

Alumina ceramic market forecast to 2027: COVID-19 impact

A new Research and Markets report overviews the alumina ceramic market, which was valued at US$4,428.90 million in 2019. It is projected to reach US$5,615.27 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Forecast: 3D printing market will reach $51 billion in 2030

A new report by Lux Research forecasts that the total 3D printing market will rise at a 15% compound annual growth rate to reach $51 billion in 2030, driven mainly by growth in production parts. The medical and dental industries will account for the largest share of end-use parts, reaching $4.5 billion in 2030.

NEW PRODUCTS

Bag dump module for process equipment

A new bag dump module from Munson Machinery can be installed on the lid of bulk solid mixers, blenders, size-reduction equipment, and storage vessels to contain dust generated when bulk materials are dumped manually.