Ceramic and glass business news of the week for September 25, 2023

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

SLAC fires up the world’s most powerful X-ray laser

The newly upgraded Linac Coherent Light Source X-ray free-electron laser at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory successfully produced its first X-rays. With up to a million X-ray flashes per second, 8,000 times more than its predecessor, the upgrade transforms the ability of scientists to explore atomic-scale, ultrafast phenomena.

Nevada could be home to world’s biggest lithium deposit

A recent study funded by Lithium Americas Corporation, the Canadian mining company behind the Thacker Pass open-pit lithium mine project in Nevada, reported that the deposit inside the McDermitt Caldera may hold between 20–40 million metric tons of lithium, an amount that would stand as the world’s largest single deposit.

Saint-Gobain signs new major renewable electricity supply agreement in North America

Saint-Gobain signed a 15-year renewable electricity supply agreement with TotalEnergies for the purchase of solar power for its 125 industrial sites in the United States and Canada. The project is expected to come online by the end of 2024.

California aviation company planning to build flying cars in Ohio

A California-based “flying car” company called Joby selected Dayton, Ohio, as the site for its new $500 million manufacturing facility. Joby says the plant will employ up to 2,000 workers and produce 500 of its vertical take-off planes a year.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Lattimer acquires Hartmann and Bender

U.K. glass engineering group Lattimer acquired Hartmann and Bender, a German manufacturer of IS variable equipment. Hartmann and Bender was founded in 1897 and has manufactured equipment for the glass container industry for more than 40 years.

Honeywell Aerospace and NREL partner to scale hydrogen fuel storage solution for drones

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory embarked on a year-long collaboration with Honeywell Aerospace to prototype and support the commercialization of a novel cartridge-based hydrogen fuel storage solution for unmanned aerial vehicles.

TPI Composites and UT Knoxville advance creation of glass yarn from wind turbine blades

TPI Composites, Inc. has moved to the second phase of development with the University of Tennessee Knoxville in the creation of glass fiber yarns from end-of-life wind blades. In Phase II, the UT team will use industrial textile manufacturing methods and equipment to scale the process and optimize yarn properties.

BASF, Nanotech Energy team up to produce lithium-ion batteries with recycled metals

Chemical manufacturer BASF will produce cathode active materials from recycled metals for battery maker Nanotech Energy to use in its lithium-ion battery cells. The two companies will also work with lithium-ion battery recycler American Battery Technology Co. and metal hydroxide materials maker Toda Advanced Materials to establish a battery value chain for North America’s consumer electronics and automotive industries.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kyoto Fusioneering form strategic alliance

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd. announced a strategic alliance agreement to jointly explore opportunities to accelerate the development and commercialization of fusion fuel cycle technology.

Sorg Group and P+ International enter exclusive cooperation agreement

The Sorg Group entered a cooperation agreement with P+ International to expand its turnkey offerings. P+ International is a group of companies (Capex, BSM Baker, Washtec, and ACE Engineering) with 30 years of glass industry-specific experience.

OTHER STORIES

Skoltech hosts conference to discuss superconductivity of nanostructures

On September 17–22, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology hosted the Supernano 2023 conference to provide scientists with a chance to communicate, discuss recent research results, and establish academic ties in the field of superconductivity.

Biden–Harris Administration releases roadmap to accelerate offshore wind transmission

The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of the Interior released an action plan to catalyze offshore wind energy. The plan outlines immediate actions needed to connect the first generation of Atlantic offshore wind projects onto the electric grid, and longer-term efforts to support needed transmission over the next several decades.

Lithoz reaffirms global market leadership position in ceramic 3D printing

In the latest report issued by VoxelMatters, Lithoz once again confirmed its global number one position in ceramic 3D printing for 2022. In detail, this 2022 top position was achieved in terms of revenue generated as well as in the number of single system units sold and the total number of technical ceramic 3D printers installed to date.

MLC Ceramic Machinery continues to make its mark

MLC Ceramic Machinery, based just north of Alcobaça in the Oeste region of Portugal, reports continuing healthy demand for its range of ceramic production machinery. A number of projects have been completed, or are nearing completion, in the U.K., France, Norway, Brazil, Turkey, and Mexico.

MARKET TRENDS

Solar energy shines in global survey with 68% support

More than two-thirds of the world’s population favors solar energy, five times more than public support for fossil fuels, a global poll found. The survey was based on interviews with more than 21,000 people in 21 countries between January and June 2023.

EU moves to cut dependency on China for battery and solar panel materials

The European parliament agreed to diversify its supplies of critical raw materials and cut red tape for mining companies. It plans to ensure that by 2030 it does not rely on a single country for more than 65% of its supply of any strategic raw material. The details of the act will now be negotiated between the parliament and the council.

US–China scientific collaboration agreement in limbo

The possible extension of a longstanding research agreement between the U.S. and China highlights the federal government’s struggle to balance national security concerns against the benefits of international scientific collaboration.

Maritime industry explores nuclear power for ships as technology opens up

The maritime industry is exploring whether nuclear fuel can be used to power commercial ships as advancements in technology open up such options. Nuclear energy has been used in the past to power military submarines and icebreakers, but its use by merchant ships has been constrained by the cost and also wariness of the risks involved.

NEW PRODUCTS

Sublime Systems achieves ASTM C1157 performance designation

Sublime Systems received ASTM C1157 performance designation for its ultralow carbon cement. Obtaining this designation enables Sublime Cement to be used compliantly under major U.S. and international building codes.

Intel unveils glass substrates to meet demand for more powerful computers

Intel announced one of the industry’s first glass substrates for next-generation advanced packaging, planned for the latter part of this decade. Compared to current organic substrates, glass offers distinctive properties such as ultralow flatness and better thermal and mechanical stability, resulting in much higher interconnect density in a substrate.

3DCeram Sinto automates technical ceramics 3D printing and green hydrogen production

3DCeram Sinto is automating the 3D-printing process for technical ceramics and the production of green hydrogen through its 3D-printing technology.