Ceramic and glass business news of the week for August 17, 2020

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Guardian Glass’ Carleton USA site celebrates 50 years of operation

Guardian Glass is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of its glass plant in Carleton, Michigan, the company’s first entry into float glass production. Up until that point, the company had been a manufacturer of automotive laminated windshields using glass sourced from others.

Bell opens new future vertical lift manufacturing laboratory

With its designs under consideration as the U.S. Army’s next-generation rotorcraft, Bell is building a 140,000-square-foot laboratory to figure out how to actually produce the Future Vertical Lift aircraft.

Piramal Glass for sale at $800 million

Indian container and pharmaceutical glassmaker Piramal Glass is for sale. The company appointed Bank of America and Axis Capital to find a buyer. Piramal Glass operates four manufacturing plants: two in India, and one each in Sri Lanka and the U.S.

Melbourne Airport to build 17 GWh solar farm

A new solar farm at Melbourne Airport will have the capability to produce enough renewable energy to power all four passenger terminals when it is turned on in January 2021. The project is the largest of its kind in Australia.

Canadian Solar starts construction of 10 MWp solar power plant in Germany

Canadian Solar commenced construction of the 10 MWp Groß Siemz solar power plant in Germany. The project is located near the city of Schönberg in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Once operational, the plant will generate about 10 GWh annually, enough to meet the needs of over 3,000 households.

Mexican utility confirms first investment in solar

Mexican utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad confirmed it will build its first large scale photovoltaic projects, days after pv magazine revealed its plans to deploy 350 MW of solar generation capacity at the company’s 820 MW Cerro Prieto geothermal plant in the Mexican state of Baja California.

Tomakk Glass launches tempered glass manufacturing facility in Shreveport

Tomakk Glass Partners will make a $1.95 million investment to launch a glass manufacturing facility in Shreveport, Louisiana. The company will manufacture tempered glass, frameless shower enclosures, and insulated windows.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

BASF acquires glass-fiber 3D-printing business from Owens Corning

BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH acquired the XSTRAND business line from Owens Corning. This acquisition will enable Forward AM to expand its portfolio with advanced glass-fiber reinforced filaments.

Imerys acquires majority stake in Turkish firm

French industrial minerals group Imerys signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Turkish refractories manufacturer Haznedar Group. The closing of this transaction is expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Boral partners with university on development of low carbon concrete

Construction materials supplier Boral formed a five-year partnership with the University of Technology Sydney to accelerate the product innovation, research, development, and commercialization of low carbon concrete.

Sumitomo further invests in Sintavia to advance aerospace additive manufacturing

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, the largest subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation, increased its investment in Sintavia, an additive manufacturing service provider focused on high-performance aerospace components.

OTHER STORIES

Webinar: Exploring metallographic preparation of medical grade alloys, coatings, ceramics

Buehler is offering a webinar on metallographic preparation for medical materials and devices on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. Eastern. In addition to examples of metallographic preparation procedures, the webinar will also highlight preparation approaches for ceramic-based materials such as dental materials and coatings.

Solar smashes expectations in 800 MW Ireland auction victory

Solar projects scooped nearly 800 MW of contracts from Ireland’s first Renewable Energy Support Scheme, smashing all expectations. The auction was expected to grant just 10% of its capacity to solar PV, equivalent to 100–300 MW. However, the asset class swept aside competing technologies, landing 34% of the overall auction volume.

Toledo Solar wins $200k federal research grant

Toledo Solar, based in Perrysburg, Ohio, won a $200,000 Phase I federal Small Business Innovation Research grant from the Department of Energy earlier this summer. The grant will pay for extended testing of solar photovoltaic modules with glass-enameled steel backs instead of the existing glass sheet used to encapsulate the panel.

Russia eyes $1.5 billion plan to curb China’s supremacy in rare earths

Russia is planning an investment of around $1.5 billion in rare earth minerals. The latest move comes as the country strives to become the biggest producer of rare earths after China by the year 2030.

MARKET TRENDS

Weak glass demand drives down soda ash consumption

During a recent industry briefing, IHS Markit said global soda ash consumption is forecast to drop in 2020 as a result of weak demand from the container and flat glass sectors. However, demand from other important end-user sectors, such as soap and detergents, remains stable, and sodium bicarbonate demand is forecast to grow 2% in 2020.

NEW PRODUCTS

Planetary Mills premium line: Grind colored pigments down to nanometer range

The new FRITSCH  Planetary Mills premium line can grind colored pigments down to the nanometer range. It can achieve rotation speeds of up to 1,100 rpm, and all grinding bowls and balls are available in different sizes and materials.

Fully automated and controlled catalyst screening units for the laboratory

The modular laboratory screening models Micromeritics FR-50, FR-100, and FR-200 by Micromeritics Instrument Corp. accommodate a wide variety of reactions including but not limited to hydrocracking, hydrotreating, isomerization, oxidation, hydrogenation, hydrodesulphurization, hydrodenitrogenation, reforming, and steam reforming.

Glass-filled polypropylene granules optimized for easy 3D printing

Royal DSM announced a new glass-filled polypropylene pellet material that was developed especially for 3D printing, enabling easy and consistent production of structural and demanding applications using fused granulate fabrication technology.