Ceramic and glass business news of the week for August 26, 2024

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

US awards first offshore wind research lease to Maine

The first U.S. floating offshore wind energy research lease was granted to the State of Maine by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The lease, which covers nearly 15,000 acres located 28 nautical miles offshore Maine, could allow for the deployment of up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 144 megawatts.

ArcelorMittal Brazil signs contracts for two solar energy projects

ArcelorMittal Brazil has embarked on two solar energy projects with a combined capacity of 465 MW, set to meet 14% of its current electricity demands. The first initiative is a joint venture with Casa dos Ventos for a 554-MW wind power project. The second project is a collaboration with Atlas Renewable Energy for a 265-MW solar energy project.

Ultralow-carbon cement factory production to start this autumn

Teesside-based Material Evolution will start mass producing ultralow-carbon cement at a factory in Wrexham, Wales, in October 2024. The process involves manufacturing cement from steel industry byproducts through a reactor that operates at room temperature.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Calibre Scientific acquires Industrial Glassware

Calibre Scientific acquired Industrial Glassware, a U.S.-based manufacturer of caps, glass vials, glass and plastic bottles, jars, and provider of other related laboratory consumables used in the chemical, environmental laboratory, and industrial end markets.

Ucore to procure rare earth oxide from Meteoric in Brazil

Australia’s Meteoric Resources entered a memorandum of understanding with Canadian company Ucore Rare Metals to supply 3,000 metric tonnes of total rare earth oxide from its upcoming Caldeira rare earth ionic clay project in the Minas Gerais region of Brazil.

CQUniversity and Sunshine Hydro partner to develop decarbonization solutions

CQUniversity and Sunshine Hydro signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and trial mini Superhybrid technology. Superhybrid is a piece of software, developed by Sunshine Hydro, that models a renewable energy ecosystem. The mini Superhybrid will provide a research testbed that allows for the development of a real-world Superhybrid.

Argonne and the University of Münster join forces to advance essential battery materials

Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Münster signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advanced battery materials. The memorandum builds on a previous collaboration from 2019, when the U.S. Department of Energy and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research convened 18 U.S. and German institutions to collaborate on lithium battery research.

OTHER STORIES

SCHOTT launches specialized division for semiconductors

SCHOTT announced the formation of a specialized division to provide tailored solutions, top-tier performance, and reliable supplies for partners in the semiconductors industry. Christian Leirer, an industry expert with 15 years of experience in semiconductors. will lead the new division.

VTT launches new initiative to demonstrate energy-efficient fiber manufacturing

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland launched a new initiative to address the challenges of energy and resource consumption in the forestry and textile industry. The goal of the Energy First initiative is to develop an entirely new technology that enables the manufacture of low-carbon, energy-efficient, and recyclable fiber-based products.

Dominican Republic creates state miner to explore for rare earths

The Dominican Republic said it will create a state mining firm called Empresa Minera Dominicana S.A., or Emidom, to explore and exploit the nation’s key mining resources, including rare earth minerals.

Isanti Glass launches ‘Take a Boy Child to Work’ initiative

Isanti Glass, a leading glass manufacturing company in South Africa, launched its inaugural “Take a Boy Child to Work” initiative. The initiative aims to provide these young men with both first-hand experience in the glass manufacturing industry and positive mentorship, thus helping instill values of respect, responsibility, and equality from an early age.

MARKET TRENDS

Eswatini turns to nuclear technology to transform agriculture, health care, energy

The Southern Africa country of Eswatini launched an initiative to achieve sustainable development by harnessing the power of nuclear technology in such sectors as agriculture, health, and energy planning. The plan was developed with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mix of climate policies more effective for emissions reductions

Analysis of 1,500 global climate policies revealed new insights into the policy combinations that effectively reduce emissions. The new research finds only 63 policy interventions successfully reduced total emissions between 0.6 billion and 1.8 billion tons of CO₂.

NREL: Commercial offshore wind energy making tangible gains

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s “Offshore Wind Market Report: 2024 Edition” outlines recent major advancements in the offshore wind energy industry, from delivery of the first commercial offshore wind power to U.S. communities to increasing state-level support to growing investments in vital infrastructure.

NEW PRODUCTS

NCDMM launches enhanced CORE platform, debuts Roadmapper 2.0 data tool

The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining introduced enhanced features for the America Makes CORE platform and unveiled its latest data dissemination tool, Roadmapper 2.0. The America Makes CORE platform helps members identify, access, and use intellectual capital assets that align with the Technology Development Roadmap.

Chilean company deploys antimicrobial coating for flat glass

Materiales Avanzados deployed its antimicrobial coating for flat glass, Vetro+, at the Diego Aracena Airport International in Iquique, Chile. The coating is marketed as actively neutralizing up to 99.9% of fungi, viruses, and bacteria.

Nissan developing new automotive paint to keep drivers cooler

Japanese automaker Nissan says it is developing a “cool” paint that can keep people inside cars cooler. According to Nissan, the paint lowered a cars’ roof-panel temperature by 12°C (22°F) and the interiors by 5°C (9°F).

SCG Color Roof: Vietnam’s first concrete tile to achieve Singapore Green Label certification

SCG Concrete Roof Vietnam Co., Ltd. announced that its SCG Color Roof is the first concrete roof tile brand in Vietnam to achieve the Singapore Green Label certification. This certification, which SCG Color Roof received in July 2024, is Singapore’s leading environmental standard and certification mark.