Ceramic and glass business news of the week for July 29, 2024

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Heidelberg Materials opens new concrete recycling plant

German multinational building materials company Heidelberg Materials opened a recycling plant for selective separation and sorting of demolition concrete in Katowice, Poland. The plant will employ a new crushing mechanism that can adequately recycle demolition concrete and replace virgin material in the production process.

DOE announces plans to create Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete Center of Excellence

The U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office announced its plan to create a Cement and Concrete Center of Excellence to accelerate the development and adoption of novel low-carbon cement and concrete technologies.

MTC launches Sustainable Materials Hub to drive net-zero product innovation

The Manufacturing Technology Center invested in a new hub for sustainable additive manufacturing. The new hub features polymer and ceramic AM machines to manufacture net zero products alongside material reprocessing equipment to recycle waste AM materials and parts into feedstocks.

Nexperia to invest $200M at its semiconductor factory in Germany

Dutch semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia plans to invest $200 million to develop the next generation of wide bandgap silicon carbide and gallium nitride semiconductors and to build production infrastructure at its facility in Hamburg, Germany. Wafer fab capacity for silicon diodes and transistors will also be increased.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Exergy and RentCo sign cooperation agreement for geothermal power project in Kenya

Exergy International, a global provider of clean energy technology, signed a cooperation agreement with RentCo Africa Ltd. that provides energy leasing solutions in Kenya for the development of RentCo’s Wellhead geothermal project.

Kazakhstan and US create JV for rare earth metals exploration in Kostanay region

Kazakhstan and the United States created a joint venture to implement a geological exploration project at the Akbulak deposit in the Kostanay region. The agreement was signed last Wednesday by Dauren Abuov, acting general director of KazGeology JSC, and Pini Althaus, CEO of U.S. investment company Cove Kaz Capital Group LLC.

NSF funds over $50M in new partnerships to broaden participation in materials science

New awards from the National Science Foundation Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials program will strengthen research infrastructure and education pathways at 15 minority-serving institutions, including six in EPSCoR states.

OTHER STORIES

Serbia adopts Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan until 2030

Serbia adopted the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan until 2030 with projections extending to 2050, starting a new phase in the country’s energy sector. This plan aims to enhance supply security, increase the share of clean energy sources, and bolster environmental protection.

BIA supports energy innovation at 2024 Virginia Energy Summit

The Brick Industry Association joined energy leaders at the 2024 Virginia Energy Summit to further access to reliable, affordable, clean, and abundant energy. This year’s summit focused on the relationship between energy, critical infrastructure, and national security.

DOE announces $33M to deploy solar technologies to decarbonize industrial sector

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $33 million for nine projects across seven states to advance concentrating solar–thermal systems technologies for solar fuel production and long-duration energy storage.

MARKET TRENDS

How cleaning up shipping cut pollution—and warmed the planet

A Grist article discusses how the maritime sector became an accidental experiment in geoengineering when it slashed sulfur emissions.

The Japanese way of recycling waste

Despite setbacks in the U.S. and elsewhere, more Japanese companies are aiming to use household waste to produce basic chemicals such as hydrogen, ethanol, and ethylene.

NEW PRODUCTS

UpNano and Glassomer co-develop 2PP 3D printing for fused silica glass

Austrian microfabrication company UpNano GmbH and German glass manufacturing specialist Glassomer GmbH co-developed a material and two-photon polymerization 3D printing process capable of producing small high-resolution parts from fused silica glass.

Singapore concrete company unveils electric-powered concrete mixer truck

Singapore concrete supplier Pan-United unveiled an electric-powered concrete mixer truck that can reportedly reduce the carbon footprint of transporting ready-mix concrete by 45% compared to a legacy truck. The truck has a 350 kWh battery pack, delivers up to 360 kW at peak power, and can charge up in two hours.