Ceramic and glass business news of the week for September 20, 2021

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Doubling capacities—SCHOTT completes next expansion stage at Chinese tubing plant

SCHOTT announced the completed expansion stage at its pharmaceutical glass tubing site in Jinyun, China. With its expanded infrastructure, the production site is set to create a total of 250 new jobs that will help aid in the production of borosilicate glass tubing needed for essential pharmaceutical packaging.

China launches research center for sustainable development goals

The Chinese Academy of Sciences launched a research center to use and share earth observation data to help the world meet the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals. The center will pool information from satellites, aircraft, drones, and ground arrays and sensors.

The world’s first large scale hybrid hydro-floating solar power plant

A Norwegian consortium led by Scatec plans to build a hybrid hydropower–floating photovoltaic plant at an unspecified location in West Africa. Building both facilities simultaneously will help its developers define a series of parameters for proper sizing, optimization, and design, and set a benchmark for future projects of this kind.

Dutch construction company invests in 300 MW solar module factory

Dutch construction company Vorm agreed to invest an unspecified sum through its investment firm Shape Capital into a new solar module factory that Netherlands-based module manufacturer Solarge B.V. is planning to build in Eindhoven.

Sisecam invests in two Turkish float glass manufacturing facilities

Şişecam is to invest $474 million in two float glass manufacturing facilities in Turkey. The glass manufacturer confirmed the investment during the official opening of a second furnace at its Ankara, Turkey, flat glass manufacturing facility.

Megawatt Lithium, Battery Metals to develop uranium potential in Australia

Megawatt Lithium and Battery Metals Corp. decided to accelerate developing the uranium potential at its Arctic Fox and Isbjorn Projects in Northern Territory, Australia, following the receipt of an interim report from the geology team highlighting the significant uranium potential within both properties.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Battery Ventures acquires global specialty materials and advisory company Goodfellow

Battery Ventures, a global, technology-focused investment firm, acquired Goodfellow, a specialist supplier of high-quality materials for research and development, prototyping, and specialized manufacturing. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Desktop Metal to ‘disrupt oil, gas, and aerospace’ with Aidro acquisition

Industrial 3D printer manufacturer Desktop Metal announced the acquisition of hydraulic and fluid power system developer Aidro. As a self-professed “pioneer” of additive manufacturing in the fluid power sector, Aidro specializes in turning outdated hydraulic designs into consolidated, lightweight, 3D-printed alternatives.

LG Energy Solution takes stake in Chinese battery materials firm Greatpower

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution will pay 35 billion won (US$30 million) for a 4.8% stake in China’s Greatpower Nickel and Cobalt Materials Co and has secured six years of nickel supply from the company. The investment deepens LG’s presence in the world’s biggest electric vehicle market.

South Korea LNG firm acquires battery storage firm Key Capture Energy

South Korean liquefied natural gas entity SK E&S Co. acquired utility-scale energy storage startup Key Capture Energy and will provide additional capital for the company’s growth plans in the U.S. Started in 2016, Key Capture holds 254 MW in standalone energy storage projects in construction and operation, with 3,000 MW more in the development pipeline.

India and US launch joint platform to mobilise finance for clean energy

Collaborating to mobilize finance and deploy clean tech for faster energy transition, India and the U.S. launched a joint platform—Climate Action and Finance Mobilisation Dialogue—which would help both countries move toward decarbonizing economies in sync with their respective commitments to deal with the challenges of climate change.

OTHER STORIES

Youth help kickstart International Year of Glass 2022 Indian celebrations

A photography competition for youngsters titled “Glass in our Lives” helped kickstart India’s celebrations of the International Year of Glass 2022. Reinhard Conradt, vice president and president elect of the International Commission on Glass, unveiled the touring exhibition at the virtual Annual General Meeting of the All India Glass Manufacturers’ Federation.

GlassTrend to host two online seminars

GlassTrend is hosting two online events this week, the first looking at the academic side of glassmaking on September 21 and the second on glass furnace emission reduction on September 22.

In Arctic push, US extends new economic aid package to Greenland

Greenland agreed to a $10 million economic aid package with the United States that mainly aims at development of Greenland’s mining sector, tourism, and education. The U.S. has a military base on Greenland but paid little attention to the Arctic until 2019, when it turned to the island to counter Russian and Chinese commercial and military buildup in the region.

Department of Energy releases two requests for information on solar

The U.S. Department of Energy released two requests for information seeking input on pathways to use solar energy to decarbonize industrial processes and on impacts of large-scale solar plants on wildlife and ecosystems. Submissions are due no later than 5 p.m. Eastern on September 30.

MARKET TRENDS

Corporations tried to blame you for the plastic crisis—now states are turning the tables

A Grist article looks at how this summer, Maine and Oregon became the first states to pass laws making producers pay fees for plastic packaging. The resulting programs could reinvigorate recycling systems, often scaled back when cities look for ways to save money, and prompt big companies to come up with cleaner alternatives.

Most plans for new coal plants scrapped since Paris agreement

A report by the climate groups E3G, Global Energy Monitor, and Ember found that more than three-quarters of the world’s planned coal power plants were scrapped since the Paris climate agreement was signed, meaning 44 countries no longer have any future coal power plans.

Why the switch to electric vehicles may boost use of 3D printing in auto manufacturing

An SME article looks at four ways additive manufacturing can contribute to building electric vehicles, including lighter parts, which can extend battery life; more material options and better thermal capabilities; better value in low-volume production with quicker speed to market; and spare parts and digital warehouses to ramp-up electric vehicle production.

NEW PRODUCTS

Tethon 3D launches carbon nanotube C-Lite ESD resin for stereolithography

Tethon 3D, leveraging Mechnano MechT technology, will soon commercially launch C-Lite, a high-temperature-resistant carbon nanotube electrostatic discharge material, printable on SLA, DLP, and LCD additive manufacturing printers.

LG Innotek and Sunglim Group develop eco-friendly magnet with strong power

LG Innotek, the electric component unit of South Korea’s LG Group, teamed with Sunglim Group, a domestic permanent magnet producer, to develop an eco-friendly magnet with strong magnetic power that can minimize the use of heavy rare-earth metals by 60%.

ROSS: High-throughput ultrahigh shear mixer

The ROSS Inline Ultra High Shear Mixer 700 Series is designed for challenging shear requirements, a more efficient alternative to colloid mills which generally suffer from low throughput. Depending on the application, it can replace high pressure homogenization or serve as a premixer to high-pressure homogenizers.