Ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 22, 2023

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Mine land reclamation at Kyanite Mining Corporation

In a recent PBS episode of “Virginia Home Grown,” Peggy Singlemann explores the land reclamation site at Kyanite Mining Corporation in Buckingham County, Va.

EU plans Black Sea internet cable to reduce reliance on Russia

The European Union is planning an undersea internet cable to improve connectivity to Georgia and reduce dependence on lines running through Russia. The €45mn cable will link EU member states to the Caucasus via international waters in the Black Sea, stretching a span of 1,100 km.

Technical University of Denmark to establish electron crystallography facility

The Department of Chemistry at the Technical University of Denmark is establishing an electron crystallography facility, which is due for inauguration in August and will cater to both academic and commercial partners. The centerpiece of the facility will be an XtaLAB Synergy-ED electron diffractometer purchased from Rigaku.

Canadian solar company to expand glass manufacturing capacity

Patterned solar photovoltaic glass provider Canadian Premium Sand signed offtake agreements with major panel manufacturers Qcells, Meyer Burger, and Heliene. The company will launch an 800 tonnes a day solar glass facility, expanding beyond its original plans to add 550 tonnes a day.

Clemson University breaks ground on $130-million Advanced Materials Innovation Complex

Clemson University broke ground for a $130-million building that is expected to herald a new era of advanced materials innovation and workforce development for South Carolina and the broader region. The 143,000-square-foot Advanced Materials Innovation Complex, scheduled to open at the end of 2025, will be designed for education and research.

WVU Energy Institute transforming to serve emerging energy trends

West Virginia University is repositioning the institutes within its Research Office to best meet industry-wide transitions. The Energy Institute will transform into the WVU Institute for Sustainability and Energy Research, effective July 1, with Sam Taylor as its director.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Maginito to acquire pioneering rare earth magnet recycler HyProMag

Maginito (Mkango 90%; CoTec 10%) entered into an agreement to increase its ownership in HyProMag Limited from 42% to 100% for a cash and share consideration.

3M and Svante announce joint development agreement to develop CO₂ removal products

3M is expanding its ongoing commitment to materials science-based climate tech solutions by working with Svante Technologies, Inc. to develop material that can trap carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere and permanently remove it.

Penn State and onsemi partner to boost silicon carbide research in the US

The Pennsylvania State University and onsemi, a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, signed a memorandum of understanding toward an $8 million strategic collaboration that includes the establishment of the onsemi Silicon Carbide Crystal Center at Penn State’s Materials Research Institute.

UK and Japan to boost defense and chips ties ahead of G7

Britain’s Rishi Sunak signed a new deal on defense cooperation with Japan as he met the country’s PM Fumio Kishida ahead of the G7 summit last week. Dubbed the “Hiroshima Accord,” the deal is aimed at boosting cooperation between the nation’s armed forces and launching a new semiconductor partnership to protect chip supply chains.

OTHER STORIES

Understanding the media: A starter guide for scientists

SciLine is holding a free, one-hour course on the basics scientists need to know as they consider dipping their toes or diving deeper into media engagement. The online course takes place Monday, June 5, 2–3 p.m. Eastern.

NUTEC Group announces new president for NUTEC’s Fibers Division

Effective May 1, 2023, NUTEC Group appointed Gerardo Muraira as its new president of the Fibers Division. For nearly eight years previously, Gerardo headed up the group’s North American subsidiary, NUTEC Inc.

American Concrete Institute announces new executive vice president

The American Concrete Institute announced that Frederick H. Grubbe, MBA, CAE, currently president and chief executive officer of the National Precast Concrete Association, was named executive vice president of ACI. Current executive vice president Ronald G. Burg will retire from ACI in August after 13 years of service to the Institute.

LG Electronics to ramp up production of glass powders

LG Electronics plans to ramp up production of different glass powders as part of its strategy to enter the functional materials business. The electronics manufacturer will supply antibacterial and water-soluble glass powders to third-party companies.

Australian government channels $2 billion to green hydrogen fuel

The Australian government diverted $2 billion toward developing hydrogen fuel and outlined part of its plan in the federal budget. It also slated $38.2 million for a guarantee-of-origin scheme to certify energy products come from renewable resources and $2 million to support the involvement of First Nations people and businesses with hydrogen projects.

UK launches $1.2 billion semiconductor plan after US and EU splurge on chips

The United Kingdom announced up to £1 billion (US$1.24 billion) of support for its semiconductor industry. The investment will form part of a 20-year strategy on semiconductors—which has faced lengthy delays—outlining the U.K.’s plan to secure its chip supplies and protect against national security risks.

MARKET TRENDS

The green energy transition has a Chilean copper problem

At Chilean state-owned Codelco, the world’s No. 1 copper producer, output is running at its lowest in a quarter century, costs have surged, and profit has slumped—all at a time when Chile’s government needs more money to fight festering inequalities and the world needs more copper for batteries and electric grids as it transitions away from fossil fuels.

The new EV gold rush: Automakers scramble to get into mining

Car companies are playing the role of both investors and customers. Many are using their deep pockets to help get mines up and running, while guaranteeing to purchase the extracted materials. The result is a haphazard alliance of two sectors that in many ways make strange bedfellows.

How can smart charging steer electric vehicle uptake in India?

An article by the International Energy Agency looks at how India plans to fulfill its pledge to deploy 500 GW of renewable electricity generation capacity by 2030 and sign up to the global EV30@30 campaign.

Truckers are caught on the front line of California’s EV push

By 2024, trucks bought for use in California’s ports and rail yards must be zero-emission vehicles. The struggle to electrify previews what must happen worldwide.

Solar panel manufacturing booming in Ohio

Two companies in Toledo, Ohio, provide much of the U.S. market share for solar panels. First Solar supplies the utility-scale solar market while Toledo Solar supplies the nonutility market, i.e., residential homes and commercial buildings. Both companies manufacture cadmium telluride panels instead of crystalline silicon, a market dominated by China.

NEW PRODUCTS

The new RATH 4xx feeder expendable series

The new RATH 4xx feeder expendable series is the next generation of the previous RATH 3xx feeder expendable series. While the previous 3xx mixes were produced using the slipcasting technique, the FOURATH 4xx mixes use the same mold park but casting is no longer done via slipcasting; instead, a special vibrocasting technology is used.

ACC launches ‘Bagcrete,’ a user-friendly, pre-blended concrete solution

ACC Limited, the cement and building material company of Adani Cement and part of the Adani Group, launched Bagcrete, a proportional balance of premium components produced to generate high-quality concrete mix.

CBAK Energy to host Corporate Open Day showcasing sodium-ion batteries

CBAK Energy Technology, Inc., a leading lithium-ion battery manufacturer and electric energy solution provider in China, announced that it will host a Corporate Open Day on June 28, 2023, to showcase its cutting-edge sodium-ion batteries.

Safely storing deep-cold medications with prefillable polymer syringes

SCHOTT Pharma launched prefillable polymer syringes for deep-cold drugs, which are stored and transported on dry ice at temperatures reaching -100°C.