PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

AGC develops automated management system for raw materials

AGC developed the Smart Inventory System for the automated management of raw materials. The system was fully deployed as of April 2021 at the Kansai Plant, Takasago Factory and Amagasaki Factory in Japan.

Rainbow Rare Earths release final assay results

Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd announced the final assay results from the auger drilling program completed at the Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project located in South Africa. The results are broadly supportive of previous indications from the Sasol sample and test work program.

Saint-Gobain to invest £30 million at its East Yorkshire glass factory

Saint-Gobain Glass is to invest £30 million in its glass manufacturing factory in Eggborough, East Yorkshire, UK. The company is carrying out a major construction program to completely rebuild and install a new state-of-the-art float glass furnace, as well as upgrade other areas of the factory.

DuPont builds adhesives plant in China to support vehicle electrification, lightweighting

DuPont announced that it is investing about $30 million to build a new manufacturing facility in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, in East China. The facility will produce adhesives to serve customers in the transportation industry, specifically targeting vehicle electrification and lightweighting. The facility is expected to be operational by early 2023.

Ibstock invests in Pathfinder Project to achieve world’s first net zero brick factory

Ibstock plc confirmed its intention to make a major investment in one of its brick factories in the West Midlands, England. A combination of reduced process emissions and greater thermal efficiency will cut the carbon intensity of bricks produced at the Atlas site by 50% compared to the existing factory.


ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Nano Dimension acquires NanoFabrica

Nano Dimension Ltd., an additively manufactured electronics provider, has signed and closed a definitive agreement to acquire NanoFabrica Ltd., a micromechanics 3D printing leader in technology and turn-key systems for precision additive manufacturing.

Iberdrola and Porcelanosa launch project to electrify ceramic production

Iberdrola and Porcelanosa launched a project to electrify ceramic production by combining renewables, green hydrogen, and heat pump technology. This GREENH2SKER project is the first joint project launched by these companies after recently entering into an agreement to promote decarbonization of the industrial ceramic production process.

Verallia creates glass recycling company with Remondis

Verallia Deutschland and Remondis Recycling signed a joint venture agreement to form a company called VERRE Recycling. Both companies will bring two different waste glass processing plants into the joint company. Operations are scheduled to start in July 2021.

CS Energy, Goldman Sachs partner to deliver 216 MWdc of utility-scale solar in New York

CS Energy, in close partnership with the Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, developed and initiated construction on 216 megawatts-dc of new utility-scale solar projects across New York. The projects are expected to achieve commercial operations by the end of 2021.

Kyocera and AVX to establish new brand to enhance business worldwide

Kyocera Corporation and AVX Corporation announced that the companies have established a new integrated brand “KYOCERA AVX” to be used for the Kyocera group’s electronic components business starting in October 2021.


OTHER STORIES

New online materials community launches

The MaterialsMatrix, which is free to join and use, is a chance for industry and academia to collaborate, network, learn, and discuss. Developed by Lucideon, along with input from materials experts, it covers a wide range of materials and industries.

Allied Refractory Products India celebrates 10th anniversary

Allied Refractory Products India celebrates its 10th anniversary this month. The facility in Sanand, Ahmedabad district, Gujarat manufactures high-quality refractory products to the same standards used at its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

KeraCel Inc. announces name change to Sakuu Corporation

KeraCel Inc., a leader in automated multiprocess additive manufacturing, announced that it has changed the company’s name to Sakuu Corporation. The name change aligns with the company’s advanced additive manufacturing platform, which has been engineered to build complex fully functional devices at industrial rates.

Glass Packaging Institute releases 10-year goal

The Glass Packaging Institute announced that its new initiative, A Circular Future for Glass, provides a 10-year plan to raise the U.S. glass recycling rate to 50% and boost the average use of recycled content in domestically made glass containers.

DOE awards $19 million for initiatives to produce rare earth elements and critical minerals

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded $19 million for 13 projects in traditionally fossil fuel-producing communities across the country to support production of rare earth elements and critical minerals vital to the manufacturing of batteries, magnets, and other components important to the clean energy economy.


MARKET TRENDS

QEERI launches Qatar’s first solar atlas to map renewable energy potential

Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute, part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University, released the first Qatar Solar Atlas, a tool that quantifies the country’s solar resource and its geographical distribution as a first step toward accelerating the use of more solar energy across the country.

FGIA releases 2020/2021 Industry Review and Forecast

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance released the FGIA 2020/2021 U.S. Industry Statistical Review and Forecast. This report delivers timely information on window, door, and skylight market trends and product relationships. Historic data for 2012 through 2020 and forecast data for 2021 through 2023 are included in the report.


NEW PRODUCTS

Continuous Loss In Weight feeding system: Accurately weigh g/hr to tons/min

The Vibra Screw Continuous Loss In Weight Feeder provides unparalleled versatility in handling a broad range of feeding requirements. Feed rate from 20 pounds to 24,000 pounds per hour can be accomplished with accuracies of plus or minus 1/4-1% on a minute-to-minute basis at 2 sigma.

Carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene filament for additive manufacturing

Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, announced an expansion of its 3D printing product portfolio to include innovative carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene filament for 3D printing.

Carbon nanotube technology for additive manufacturing materials

Arizona-based Mechnano introduced Formula1, a photopolymer resin that uses carbon nanotubes to deliver electrostatic discharge properties to printed parts. More carbon nanotube-enhanced materials for 3D printing processes are to come.

Customized GaN test board for dynamic power device analyzer / double-pulse tester

Keysight Technologies, Inc. announced a customized gallium nitride test board for the company’s dynamic power device analyzer / double-pulse tester, enabling Tier 1 and original equipment manufacturer power converter designers to reduce prototype cycles and speed introduction of new products.

Bulk bag unloaders

The Vibra Screw bulk bag unloader provides a safe, dust-free and convenient way to handle and discharge bulk bags. It is available in eight models to accommodate all styles of bulk bags and bulk bag discharger requirements.

Author

Lisa McDonald