Ceramic and glass business news of the week for January 27, 2020

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Groot confirms location of container and float glass factories

Namibia’s Groot Group closed US$2 billion in private equity for the Groot projects, of which $650 million is for the two Groot Glass factories: a float and a container glass factory. Its financiers asked that the two Groot Glass factories be constructed next to its silica sand factory in Oshikango, Namibia, to save transportation costs of silica sand.

New additive manufacturing center opens in Sweden

Manufacturer and distributor GE Healthcare Life Sciences introduced a new additive manufacturing center in Umea, Sweden, to accelerate biopharma manufacturers’ access to the latest available technology. This center, which was a two-million USD investment, will aim to integrate 3D printed parts into the production of manufacturing equipment.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Allied Power Group completes acquisition of Texas Metal Printing

Allied Power Group has acquired Texas Metal Printing, a leading additive manufacturing company focused on advanced material 3-D printing in the aerospace and industrial gas turbine sectors. Brandon Cain, the founder of TMP, will join APG in a critical support role.

GE, ORNL, PARC receive $1.3m to accelerate energy products with additive manufacturing

GE, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Palo Alto Research Center were awarded an estimated $1.3 million to accelerate the development of 3D printed turbomachinery parts. The partners aim to reduce the timeline for designing and validating 3D printed components by as much as 65%.

Asahi Glassplant UK acquires Syrris, Glass Solutions to increase portfolio for chem market

Asahi Glassplant UK Ltd. announced the successful acquisition of the Syrris and Glass Solutions businesses from Blacktrace Holdings Ltd. on Jan. 1, 2020. Glass Solutions is a glass manufacturing business; Syrris is a global leader in flow chemistry and jacketed reactor systems.

OTHER STORIES

Funding available for energy technology research and development

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program released a request for proposals to fund environmental research and development starting in 2021. The pre-proposal deadline is March 5, 2020.

DOE announces $133 million to accelerate advanced vehicle technologies research

The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $133 million in new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies research. This funding opportunity supports projects in a variety of areas, including advanced batteries and electrification and advanced engine and fuel technologies.

Lynas’ rare earth licence renewal in Malaysia challenged in court

Australian rare earth miner Lynas Corp, the world’s only major producer of rare earths outside China, said that three individuals in Malaysia had filed a lawsuit challenging the government’s decision to renew the company’s operating licence last year.

ACI and ACI Illinois Chapter to host concrete convention in Chicago

The American Concrete Institute and the ACI Illinois Chapter will host a convention aimed at advancing concrete knowledge in Chicago from 29 March to 2 April. The program includes more than 40 technical and educational sessions on concrete research, case studies, and best practices.

Dirt-eating solar panel coating wins government funding

Swift Coat won a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office to develop a coating that incorporates photocatalytic titania to both deflect dirt and break down organic compounds.

MARKET TRENDS

Most glass and glazing materials prices see year-over-year increases

According to the latest Producer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the not seasonally adjusted prices for materials used in glass and glazing manufacturing were a mixed bag in December 2019, but the trend of year-over-year increases continued.

Wind power could be dominant offshore energy focus within five years

Rystad Energy, the Norwegian based energy research firm, estimates the United States will likely spend more money developing offshore wind capacity (over $15 billion) than offshore oil and gas (average $14.8 billion) within the next five years. Six gigawatts of offshore wind projects in U.S. waters are already slated for development.

NEW PRODUCTS

Orton 2020 testing price list now available

The Materials Testing & Research Center at The Edward Orton Jr. Ceramic Foundation released pricing for testing services in 2020. The 2020 Testing Price List is available as a PDF here.