PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES
Russia’s Tomtor project confirmed as one of top three rare earths projects globally
ThreeArc Mining’s initial Ore Reserve estimate for the Tomtor niobium and rare earth metals project in the northwestern Russian province of Yakutia has confirmed it as one of the top three rare earths projects in the world.
Pensana plans UK rare earth metals facility
Pensana has adopted a business plan to seek to establish a world-class, independent, and sustainable supply chain of the rare earth metals vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and other strategic industries. The plan involves establishing the world’s first sustainable rare earth separation facility at the “plug and play” Saltend Chemicals Park in Humber, U.K.
Atkins to design world-first fusion energy research center
Atkins was appointed by the UK Atomic Energy Authority to help design the world’s first center for researching tritium for use in fusion energy. The Hydrogen-3 Advanced Technology facility will support ongoing work at ITER, the world’s largest fusion experiment which is currently under construction in the south of France.
Magnis Energy Technologies’ iM3NY gets $85 million for NY battery plant
Magnis Energy Technologies’ subsidiary iM3NY received US$85 million (A$110.2 million) to accelerate production at its lithium-ion battery plant in New York. The plant is now fully funded to generate over one gigawatt-hour of high-grade lithium-ion battery cells per year.
O-I Villotta embraces variety of production and environmental technologies
O-I Glass recently completed a series of multiyear investments at its plant in Villotta, Italy, transforming it into a world-class example of energy-efficient glass packaging manufacturing. A primary focus was upgrading both of Villotta’s furnaces to use gas-oxy combustion technology.
BA Glass invests €60 million in Sofia site
BA Glass is to invest €60 million in the construction of a new furnace at its Sofia, Bulgaria, container glass manufacturing site. The investment is part of the group’s plan presented in 2017 when acquiring the Southeast Europe operations from Yioula Group.
Stoelzle Glass Group to invest $40 million in Pennsylvania glass factory
Stoelzle Glass Group, based in Austria, acquired a western Pennsylvania glass factory from Ohio-based Anchor Hocking Glass in March. Stoelzle expects to pour $40 million to $45 million into the plant—its first outside Europe—over the next seven to eight years.
Gold Plus Glass Industry plans biggest capacity expansion of 700,000 metric tonnes
Gold Plus Glass Industry Limited, India’s second largest float glass manufacturer and a dominant player in the architectural glass segment, confirmed its plans to undertake biggest float glass capacity expansion in India to date. The company will add two float glass lines and a solar glass line with combined installed capacity of 700,000 metric tonnes annually.
ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS
U.S. Concrete completes purchase in Bay Area
U.S. Concrete acquired an operational cementitious terminal, bulk storage facility and about 8.5 acres of land with access to the Port of Stockton in California. U.S. Concrete expects the acquisition to provide the company with better control of its supply chain and cementitious supply in the Bay Area.
Blue Elephant Energy and UKA to develop solar portfolio
Germany-based power companies Blue Elephant Energy and Umweltgerechte Kraftanlagen partnered to develop a solar portfolio in the country. The 500MWp portfolio comprises 11 solar projects located in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. The first solar parks are expected to be completed by 2023.
SVOLT Energy Technology, Soteria Battery Innovation scale production of safer batteries
SVOLT Energy Technology Co., LTD., a global advanced technology company and spin-off of Chinese automobile manufacturer Great Wall Motors, is first to begin commercialization of lithium-ion batteries using safety technology from Soteria Battery Innovation Group.
Minerals firms Energy Fuels and Hyperion sign monazite-to-rare-earths MOU
Energy Fuels Inc. and Hyperion Metals Limited signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate the potential supply of monazite sands from the Titan Project in Tennessee to Energy Fuels’ White Mesa Mill in Utah for the production of rare earth products.
Drexel helps establish first trade association for MXenes
Drexel University is helping to establish a global trade association called the MXene Association that will serve as the professional body to establish standards and best practices, connect researchers and corporations, and promote the research and development involving MXenes.
GCCA expands its ‘Innovandi’ innovation program
The Global Cement and Concrete Association is expanding its innovation program “Innovandi” to encompass a new Open Challenge innovation accelerator program. The Open Challenge program will bring together start-ups and leading cement and concrete producers to create new innovations needed for the sector to reduce its carbon emissions.
DOE launches international clean energy initiatives to tackle climate crisis
The U.S. Department of Energy, along with other governments, announced six new initiatives that will expand international cooperation around tackling the climate crisis, boosting clean energy innovation, and advancing an equitable transition to a net-zero future.
OTHER STORIES
Advanced Ceramics and Applications IX: Abstracts due June 15
The Serbian Ceramic Society ACA IX conference, which was postponed last year, is scheduled for Sept. 20–22, 2021, in Belgrade. Abstracts are due by June 15 and should be submitted via e-mail as attached documents to president@serbianceramicsociety.rs, with the subject: ACA IX-first name and surname of the presenting author.
bauma postponed until October 2022
bauma—the world’s biggest trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles, and construction equipment—has been postponed until Oct. 24–30, 2022.
Missouri S&T hosts symposium on future of nuclear power
Nuclear industry experts will discuss the role of nuclear power in the future of the U.S. energy infrastructure during a virtual symposium hosted by Missouri University of Science and Technology. The symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, April 30.
O-I launches competition for young designers
The O-I Expressions Design Awards 2021 is encouraging young designers under the age of 30 to create glass packaging for a spirits brand. The brief requires competitors to convey both premium brand cues and enhanced sustainability. The deadline is June 15, 2021.
New president named for The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society
Ellen Cerreta, the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s division leader for Materials Science and Technology, was named president of The Minerals, Metals, & Materials Society (TMS), a professional society for scientists and engineers in those fields.
Tethon 3D obtains key ceramic 3D printing patent
Tethon 3D received a U.S. patent for optimally sintering parts that are 3D printed via photopolymerization processes of bound metal and bound ceramic slurries. The patent describes particle shape characteristics that allow for improved sintering of objects created by ultraviolet curing platforms.
Greenland Minerals to begin talks with new govt over Kvanefjeld project
Australia’s Greenland Minerals Ltd said it would start talks with Greenland’s newly-formed government over its Kvanefjeld rare earth mining project, which has been facing political opposition. The Australian miner has sought legal advice, including over its right to be granted an exploitation licence.
CoorsTek recognized as a US Best Managed Company
CoorsTek is proud to announce it was selected as a 2021 US Best Managed Company. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies and the achievements of their management teams. CoorsTek is the only company in Colorado to receive this designation for 2021.
Immensa becomes first company in Saudi Arabia to receive AM license approval
Immensa Technology Labs, the region’s leading additive manufacturing company, was approved for additive manufacturing by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investments. This license represents the first of its kind to be issued in Saudi Arabia and is in line with “Vision2030” and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program.
WCA launches Gender Focus Network
The World Cement Association has launched the Gender Focus Network, an initiative aiming to improve the representation of women within the global cement community. The network’s mission is to encourage companies to implement gender diversity programs and foster women’s empowerment and professional development across the industry.
MARKET TRENDS
Renewable energy in Latin America: Five trends
A RatedPower article unpacks five renewable energy trends emerging from Latin America, including Brazil and Chile are leading the growth, adoption of bifacial solar panels, meeting demand of population growth, transport electrification, and reducing reliance on hydropower.
Georgia poised to seize big role in electric vehicle industry
Next year, a multibillion dollar electric vehicle battery factory is set to begin production near Commerce, just north of Atlanta, Georgia. The SK Battery America plant, which recently reached a settlement with a rival that had accused it of stealing trade secrets, has already attracted some suppliers, including GEDIA Automotive Group, Teklas, and EnChem.
Thermal ceramics market: Global forecast to 2028
A new Research and Markets report predicts that the global thermal ceramics market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% to reach US$7,274.3 million in 2028. Increasing consumption of thermal ceramics in various industries to insulate or protect against extreme heat and fire is a major factor driving market growth.
NEW PRODUCTS
Expanded mobile energy technology platform includes on-demand electric vehicle charging
Booster, a technology platform for mobile energy delivery, announced the expansion of its service to include on-demand electric vehicle charging. The capability makes Booster the first technology company to expand its platform beyond conventional to renewable energy.
4JET expands its portfolio of laser glass cutting systems
The 4JET Group, which develops innovative laser systems for cleaning, structuring, marking, cutting, and modifying materials to produce high-quality component surfaces, has introduced new versions of its PEARL laser glass cutting systems and installed several machines, with international customers, since the beginning of 2021.
Author
Lisa McDonald
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