Ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 10, 2021

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Mkango announces results of flotation piloting

Mkango Resources Ltd. announced results of the flotation pilot plant program completed at ALS Metallurgy in Perth, Australia, which was effective in scaling up a new, optimized flotation regime for the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project located in Malawi.

International Cookware to invest €21 million in Duralex upgrade

After acquiring the Duralex brand in January 2021, International Cookware is investing 21 million euros to create an industrial hub in the Center-Val de-Loire region of France. The project expects to double plant’s turnover and increase production rate from 40% to 75%.

NCDMM announces new LLC in Huntsville, Alabama

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining announced the creation of a new Limited Liability Company—the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center—with the mission of accelerating the adoption of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and building a highly skilled Alabama workforce.

Pakistan’s cement producers to expand capacity by 40%

Pakistan’s cement producers plan to expand their capacity by more than 40% from nearly 69 million tonnes to nearly 99 million tonnes over the next several years in anticipation of 10–15% growth in their sales every year, according to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Nipro PharmaPackaging completes Croatian glass acquisition

Japan-based packaging company Nipro PharmaPackaging acquired Croatian glass pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer Piramida. Nipro said with the acquisition of Piramida and its yearly capacity in excess of 500 million glass containers, it is now able to cater to the market needs in Central Europe.

Fralock Holdings acquires Ceramic Tech Inc.

Fralock Holdings, LLC, a leading developer and manufacturer of engineered solutions for critical applications, announced the acquisition of Ceramic Tech Incorporated, an end-to-end ceramic solutions provider whose capabilities include specialized formulations, pre-fired machining, sintering, pressing, and grinding.

Gipuzkoa focuses on high-value rare earth recycling from electronic waste

The Ceit Technology Centre, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance, and the Environmental Department of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, Spain, signed an agreement to develop an advanced recycling process which reduces dependence on foreign imports and allows advanced recycling of neodymium from waste magnets.

BMW and Ford invest in Solid Power to secure all-solid-state batteries

Solid Power, a producer of all-solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, announced a $130 million Series B investment round led by BMW Group, Ford Motor Company, and Volta Energy Technologies. Ford and BMW Group also expanded existing joint development agreements with Solid Power to secure all-solid-state batteries for future electric vehicles.

UNSW SMaRT Centre, Mirvac create apartment made with waste materials

The UNSW SMaRT Centre and industry partner Mirvac revealed an industry-first apartment, made using waste materials, that has the potential to revolutionize home construction and at the same time transform household waste into a valuable resource.

OTHER STORIES

Workshop: Diversity, equity, and inclusion in chemistry and chemical engineering

The National Academies is holding a virtual workshop to discuss barriers to and best practices for creating more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments in chemistry and chemical engineering classrooms and workplaces. The workshop takes place May 25–26.

Webinar: Benefits of advanced ceramic materials for withstanding harsh environments

Ceramics Expo is hosting a webinar on the benefits of advanced ceramic materials for withstanding harsh environment applications on May 25 at 11 a.m. Eastern. Speakers include technical-level representatives from the European Space Agency and Ceranovis.

ACerS UK Chapter meetup on sustainable ceramics manufacturing

The UK Chapter of ACerS partnered with the TFI Network+ to deliver the next face-to-face meetup “Sustainable Ceramics Manufacturing,” taking place on July 6. This meetup will include a number of speakers focusing on a range of topics, including challenges in the refractories industry, recent research on energy density, and 3D printing of ceramics.

Ceramics UK taking place July 2021

Ceramics UK is a free-to-attend exhibition and conference on the latest technical ceramic solutions. ​​​Co-located with the Advanced Materials Show, Battery Cells & Systems Expo, and Vehicle Electrification Expo, the four shows will take place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, U.K., in July 2021.

SINTX Technologies files multiple new U.S. and international patent applications

SINTX Technologies, Inc. announced multiple U.S. and international patent applications for development of new technologies using the company’s silicon nitride. The patent applications largely relate to the development of antipathogenic and/or osteogenic composite systems, methods, devices, and surface coatings.

New CEO named for Superior Technical Ceramics

The Board of Directors of Superior Technical Ceramics announced that James R. Callan was appointed president and CEO, effective April 19. Callan brings more than 30 years of proven advanced manufacturing leadership to STC.

How a mythical backwoods monster saved a struggling West Virginia glass company

The Washington Post reports how Blenko Glass Company in West Virginia created a limited edition piece of the mythical Flatwoods Monster to bring in revenue following a months-long closure brought on by the pandemic.

MARKET TRENDS

The lithium gold rush: Inside the race to power electric vehicles

The New York Times reports on traditional mining and brine extraction projects taking place to mine lithium in the United States. Success of these projects will depend largely on how successful environmentalists, tribes, and local groups are in blocking projects.

Nigeria’s cement price problem

A CemNet article looks at the price of Nigerian cement, which has soared in recent weeks, and possible solutions on the horizon.

Illegal rare-earth mining surges in Myanmar

Illegal mining of rare-earth minerals has surged in the northern Kachin state on the border with China. The area has been controlled by a junta-linked militia since the February 1 military coup in Myanmar.

NEW PRODUCTS

Video demonstrating planetary mixers

ROSS launched a new video featuring the three designs in its suite of Planetary Models. The video features an overview of the history and evolution of the planetary design, along with up-to-date footage of the stirring action in 4k video quality.

New spectrometer to help uncover comprehensive surface chemistry insights

Thermo Fisher launched a fully automated x-ray photoelectron spectrometer called Nexsa G2 that allows researchers to obtain holistic insights into surface chemistry of microelectronics, ultrathin films, and nanotechnologies.

35% reduction in radon exhalation in Hycrete concrete

A recent Swedish Cement and Concrete Research Institute report showed concrete containing Hycrete reduced radon exhalation by 35% compared to the control. Hycrete, Inc. is a leader in moisture and corrosion protection technologies in concrete.