Ceramic and glass business news of the week for March 4, 2024

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Eirich Group Germany expands global footprint with Pune plant inauguration

Eirich Group Germany inaugurated its new plant in Pune, India. The plant will produce intensive mixers, associated plant equipment, and control systems for key industry segments, including metallurgy, ceramics, and agrochemicals.

Austria welcomes first large-scale CO₂ recovery plant in cement industry

Rohrdorfer Zement GmbH in Gmunden, Austria, saw the groundbreaking ceremony of the country’s first large-scale carbon dioxide recovery plant. This pioneering project, known as CryoCEM, aims to recover 30,000 tons per year of CO₂, facilitating the production of 50,000 tons per year of CO₂-free cement by late fall 2026.

Chip giant TSMC opens first Japan factory

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company opened its first chip fabrication plant in Japan as the semiconductor giant diversifies its supply chains away from Taiwan amid U.S.-China tensions. A second plant is also being planned, with construction set to begin by the end of 2024.

Texas wildfires forces shutdown at nuclear weapon facility

A nuclear weapons facility was forced to briefly evacuate most of its staff last week due to a fast-moving wildfire in the Texas Panhandle. The Texas A&M Fire Service said the blaze rivaled the largest in state history.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

General Shale purchases Ohio-based Summitville Tiles

General Shale, North America’s largest producer of building material solutions, acquired Summitville Tiles, an Ohio-based producer of ceramic tile and thin brick solutions. Summitville’s chemical-resistant brick floors are used in world-renowned breweries, dairies, bakeries, and leading brand food and packaging plants throughout the world.

CG Bio acquires major stake in orthopedic implant firm Innosys

CG Bio became the largest shareholder in Innosys, a research and manufacturing company focused on orthopedic implants. The acquisition is aimed at leveraging Innosys’ comprehensive research and development capabilities in spinal implants and its current good manufacturing practice-standard manufacturing facilities.

Verallia to buy Vidrala’s Italian glass business for €230m

Verallia, a glass packaging producer for beverages and food products, signed an agreement to acquire the Italian glass business of Vidrala for €230 million. Vidrala’s Italian subsidiary currently has one production site in Corsico near Milan, with two furnaces. With the acquisition, Verallia will now run seven production facilities.

Clemson University leads nuclear consortium funded by the US Department of Energy

A consortium led by Clemson University is offering funding opportunities to a wide range of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia organizations as part of an effort to engage community conversations about nuclear energy and waste.

OTHER STORIES

Cerion Nanomaterials embarks on major expansion of its ceramic nanomaterial R&D

Cerion Nanomaterials announced a significant expansion of its ceramic research and development operations. The company increased its capacity and capabilities for managing thermal reactions in both oxidative and reducing atmospheres, as well as invested in increasing and refining pre-processing and post-processing stages.

Budget European start-up joins the lithium-metal battery race

On paper, Belgium-based start-up Solithor does not stand much chance of competing with the 50-plus other companies developing lithium-metal batteries. But the first commercial lithium-metal battery has yet to be made, leaving the door ajar for a company that can move fast with the right technology.

New report identifies engineering research priorities for sustainable materials design

A new report released by the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance, an initiative funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, identifies engineering research priorities for sustainable materials design, scale-up and manufacturing, and recyclability.

CHIPS for America announces funding opportunity to expand US semiconductor packaging

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to seek applications for research and development activities that will establish and accelerate domestic capacity for advanced packaging substrates and substrate materials. This NOFO is the third one released by CHIPS for America and the first focused on R&D.

DOE issues funding opportunity for CSP technology

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office issued a funding opportunity announcement to award up to $30 million for research, development, and demonstration projects that accelerate the large-scale development and deployment of concentrating solar-thermal power technology.

MARKET TRENDS

Understanding the weather behind a down year for wind energy

For the first time in more than a decade, the United States had a decrease in utility-scale electricity generation from renewable sources in 2023. An Inside Climate News article outlines the meteorological factors that played a role in this decrease.

NEW PRODUCTS

CelSian upgrades its GTM-X glass simulation software

CelSian released a new version of its computational fluid dynamics software called GTM-X. GTM-X calculates batch blanket behavior, redox chemistry, and bubble predictions, making it a standout software for furnace design and solving production quality issues.

Kolbe expands smart glass offerings

Kolbe Windows & Doors’ growing selection of technology-driven solutions now includes CLiC On-demand Privacy Glass from Cardinal Glass Industries.

Harper Furnace Technology enables high-performance silicon anodes

High-temperature thermal process solutions developed by Harper International Corp. are enabling production at several silicon anode battery material companies in 2024.

ROSS: Expertly reconditioned double planetary mixers

Fully rebuilt to perform like brand new, ROSS-reconditioned double planetary mixers are dependable workhorses for high-viscosity and heavy-duty applications. Companies that currently have older ROSS mixers can contact the Parts & Service Department to discuss the possibility of reconditioning their existing equipment.