Ceramic and glass business news of the week for August 12, 2024

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Nikon unveils California AM Technology Center

Nikon Corporation announced the inauguration of the Nikon AM Technology Center in Long Beach, Calif. This 90,000-square-foot facility marks the next critical step in the Nikon Vision 2030 plan, aiming to revolutionize manufacturing and establish digital manufacturing as a growth pillar for Nikon.

Saudi Zoujaj says affiliate approves $215M glass factory

The National Company for Glass Industries (Zoujaj) said that the board of its affiliate, Saudi Guardian International Float Glass Company, approved a study to set up a float and insulating glass factory at an estimated cost of US$215 million. The facility will have a production capacity of 750 metric tons per day.

NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory’s secondary mirror installed

Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s 3.5-meter secondary mirror has been installed on the Simonyi Survey Telescope on Cerro Pachón in Chile. The glass mirror—made by Corning Advanced Optics and polished by L3Harris Technologies—is the first permanent component of the telescope’s state-of-the-art, wide-field optical system to be installed.

Eco Wave Power officially launches first MW-scale wave energy project in Portugal

Onshore wave energy technology company Eco Wave Power Global AB announced the official kickoff of the company’s first MW-scale wave energy project. In March 2024, Eco Wave Power received the final approval necessary for the commencement of the construction works, which will be located in the city of Porto, Portugal.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Generac strengthens microgrid and energy storage solutions with acquisition of Ageto

Generac Power Systems, a designer, manufacturer, and provider of energy technology solutions, acquired Ageto, a provider of microgrid controllers that seamlessly integrate, optimize, and manage distributed conventional resources, renewable energy resources, and electric vehicle chargers in both commercial and industrial markets.

Corning and Lumen reach supply agreement on fiber optics to support data center AI

Lumen Technologies announced an agreement with Corning Incorporated for a substantial supply of next-generation optical cable. This fiber-dense cable will more than double Lumen’s U.S. intercity fiber miles, offering significant capacity to major cloud data centers racing to stay ahead of artificial intelligence workloads and high bandwidth applications.

Natura Resources announces partnership with Texas Produced Water Consortium

Natura Resources, LLC entered into a partnership with the Texas Produced Water Consortium at Texas Tech University to look at the deployment of Natura’s liquid-fueled molten salt reactor technology to power the Permian Basin.

DENSO and JERA to jointly develop high-efficiency hydrogen generation technology

DENSO Corporation and JERA Co., Inc. will jointly develop high-efficiency hydrogen generation technology that combines solid oxide electrolysis cells with waste heat utilization and conduct joint demonstration testing at a JERA thermal power station.

Energy Vault and Carbosulcis announce 100-MW hybrid gravity energy storage project

Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. and Carbosulcis S.p.A. plan to develop a 100-MW hybrid gravity energy storage system to support the Sardinia Government’s targeted conversion of a coal mine in Italy to a Carbon Free Technology Hub.

Nippon Electric Glass enters into solar power agreement in Malaysia

Nippon Electric Glass Malaysia entered into a virtual power purchase agreement with renewable energy company Ditrolic Energy. The deal is set to leverage Ditrolic Energy’s solar power plant in Kedah, Malaysia, and is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 41,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

OTHER STORIES

BIA announces 2024 Brick in Architecture Awards call for entries

The Brick Industry Association opened entries for the 2024 Brick in Architecture Awards. Entries are due by Nov. 1, 2024. Eligible projects include any work of architecture completed since Jan. 1, 2019, in which new clay brick products comprise the predominant exterior building or paving material (more than 50%).

SINTX Technologies names new CEO, appoints Board advisor

SINTX Technologies, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Eric K. Olson to succeed B. Sonny Bal as the company’s chief executive officer and president. The SINTX Board of Directors also designated Gregg Honigblum as Board advisor.

TKD Foundation establishes endowed chair in glass science at Missouri S&T

The TKD Foundation in Rolla, Mo., has permanently funded the Richard K. Brow Chair of Glass Science endowment at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

3DCeram Sinto, Inc. receives large-scale ceramic printer order from NASA

On July 15, 2024, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in collaboration with Jacobs Space Exploration Group awarded 3DCERAM Sinto, Inc. a contract for a C1000 Flexmatic Ceramic Printer and to add 3DCERAM as a partner working with NASA. This printer will be used to make samples of new and innovative materials that will be tested in space.

MARKET TRENDS

Hydrogen bikes are struggling to gain traction in China

More than a dozen Chinese cities are experimenting with hydrogen-powered shared bikes, partly because of safety concerns around lithium-ion batteries. Yet the reception to these bikes has been mixed.

Namibia says just 42% of approved mining projects are operating

Namibia said less than half of the mining projects it has approved are in operation, prompting the government to take a tougher stance on issuing permits. Namibia is the world’s third-largest uranium producer and is home to deposits of lithium as well as rare earth minerals such as dysprosium and terbium, used in magnets and wind turbines.

NEW PRODUCTS

US startup develops 28%-efficient perovskite–silicon tandem solar module

U.S.-based startup PeroNova developed lab-scale four-terminal perovskite–silicon tandem solar cells and 900-cm² mini perovskite modules. The lab-scale cells have an efficiency of around 30%, while the modules achieve around 28% for the four-terminal tandem configuration, 22% for outdoor applications, and 18% for space.

Applied Carbon raises $21.5M to deploy biochar technology that increases soil health

Technology company Applied Carbon announced it has raised a $21.5 million Series A. The funding will be used to deploy a fleet of automated machines that convert in-field agricultural crop waste into biochar, thus delivering high-durability carbon removal and agricultural services.