Ceramic and glass business news of the week for August 15, 2022

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Allied Mineral Products opens third manufacturing facility in China

Allied Mineral Products recently celebrated the opening of its newest Chinese manufacturing facility in Jiujiang Town, Nanhai District of Foshan, Guangdong Province. This new facility serves the South China market with a manufacturing capability of 110 million lbs of local product per year.

NSG to invest in Malaysian solar glass production line

NSG Group is to invest in production capacity of transparent conductive oxide coated glass in Malaysia to support the growing solar market. A float line at the Johor Bahru factory of NSG’s Malaysian Sheet Glass will install online coating capacity. It is anticipated that the supply from the converted line will commence in March 2024.

Ohio Supreme Court upholds permit for offshore wind farm on Lake Erie

The Ohio Supreme Court upheld a decision granting a permit for developers to build the nation’s first offshore, freshwater wind farm off the coast of Lake Erie. The judgment ends a drawn-out application process started in September 2016 by Icebreaker Wind Inc.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Stratasys set to acquire Covestro’s 3D printing materials business

Stratasys announced an agreement with Covestro to acquire the chemical company’s additive manufacturing business. It is expected to close in Q1 2023 and follows Stratasys’ acquisitions of Origin, RPS, and Xaar 3D in the last two years.

Watlow signs agreement to acquire Eurotherm from Schneider Electric

French industrial company Schneider Electric SE agreed to sell its Eurotherm unit to thermal systems producer Watlow Electric Manufacturing Co. Eurotherm is a global provider of temperature, power, and process control, measurement, and data management equipment, systems, software, and services for global industrial markets.

MarQuipt acquires carbon fiber marine products division of Fiberdyne Aerospace

MarQuipt Inc. acquired the carbon fiber marine products division of Fiberdyne Aerospace effective August 2. The acquisition allows MarQuipt to expand and improve carbon fiber product offerings and the associated client experience.

Missouri S&T partners in hydrogen-energy collaborative

Missouri University of Science and Technology is partnering with industry, business groups, and academic institutions to form the Greater St. Louis and Illinois Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub Industrial Cluster to promote clean energy in the industrial sector.

Ohio State joins 11 Midwest institutions to launch semiconductor-focused network

The Midwest Regional Network, with schools in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, will collaboratively develop innovative solutions in higher education to best support the onshoring of the advanced semiconductor and microelectronics industry and address the industries’ research and workforce needs.

FCC updates its memorandum of understanding with the NTIA

The Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced an updated memorandum of understanding between the agencies on spectrum coordination. The revised MOU, which is the first update since 2003, strengthens cooperation and collaboration between the agencies.

OTHER STORIES

Print & Digital Convention 2023 dates announced

The next edition of the Print & Digital Convention will be held May 16–17, 2023, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Participants can look forward to an extensive two-day program of lectures, innovative exhibits, hands-on best practice, and many opportunities to network while learning about and discussing the latest trends and opinions in the industry.

Biden signs CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed the landmark CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which provides $52.7 billion in subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production and research and boosts efforts to make the United States more competitive with China’s science and technology efforts.

Micromeritics invests to support growing customer base in Asia

Micromeritics announced three new investments to support Asia-Pacific markets. The company established direct sales, service, and support operations in South Korea through acquisition of Protech Korea. It opened a new and expanded sales, service, and training headquarters in Shanghai, and invested to better serve customers in Southeast Asia.

Solarwatt obtains ‘cradle-to-cradle’ certification for its glass-glass solar modules

German PV module manufacturer Solarwatt obtained a “cradle-to-cradle” silver certification for its glass-glass solar modules produced at its Dresden facility. The certification assessment covers five categories: material health, recyclability of materials, energy management and CO₂ emissions, water management, and social responsibility.

MARKET TRENDS

Why thermal energy storage offers hot prospects for power

A POWER article looks at how the array of in-development thermal energy storage technologies highlights the potential for demand shifting, variable supply integration, sector integration, network management, and seasonal storage.

Corruption is sending shock waves through China’s chipmaking industry

China’s chipmaking industry descended into chaos at the end of July, with at least four top executives associated with a state-owned semiconductor fund arrested on corruption charges. It is an explosive turn of events that could force the country to fundamentally rethink how it invests in chip development.

A day in the life of India’s e-waste workers

Located on the outskirts of New Delhi, Seelampur is the country’s largest market dedicated to dismantling old tech, and it is home to an estimated 50,000 men, women, and children whose livelihoods depend on e-waste. A Slate article looks at what life is like for these workers, who battle suffocating heat and hazardous chemicals with little protection.

NEW PRODUCTS

3DCeram unveils its new industrial ceramic C1000 FLEXMATIC 3D printer

3DCeram launched its newest ceramic 3D printing system, the C1000 FLEXMATIC machine. The machine contains a removable tank that allows for semi-automated post-processing of printed parts, meaning continuous production for large series.