PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Auxico plans to build $116 million rare earth refinery in Colombia

Auxico Resources Canada is making plans to build a 10,000-sq.-metre rare earth refinery in the free trade zone in the city of Santa Marta, Colombia. With a throughput of 36,000 tonnes per year, the estimated cost of the plant will be $116.2 million.

Project agreement signed for construction of Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories announced that an integrated project delivery agreement is now in place for the design and construction of the Chalk River Laboratories’ new laboratory research complex, the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre. The Centre will be one of the largest nuclear research facilities ever constructed in Canada.

RHI Magnesita fires up €23 million refractory production kiln

RHI Magnesita fired up a tunnel kiln for refractory production at its plant in Urmitz, Germany. It is primarily used to fire bricks for the refractory lining of aggregates. This kiln is the first time in decades that a tunnel kiln for shaped and fired refractory products has existed at the Urmitz plant.


ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Vesuvius to acquire Universal Refractories

Vesuvius plc, a global leader in molten metal flow engineering and technology, signed an agreement to acquire the assets and substantially all of the liabilities of U.S.-based specialty refractory producer Universal Refractories, Inc.

Sandvik to acquire software provider ICAM

Sandvik signed an agreement to acquire Canada-based ICAM Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative solutions that translate CAM data into optimized coding for guiding computer numerical control machining operations.

ACC and Ambuja Cements to develop calcined clay cements with IIT Delhi

ACC and Ambuja Cements partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi to develop a range of calcined clay cements with 50% lower CO2 emissions than regular Portland cement. The collaboration will vary clinker, calcined clay and limestone levels in calcined clay cements in order to ascertain their effects on its performance.

Kebotix, SCM partner to advance materials innovation

Kebotix, a U.S.-based technology platform company that transforms discovery of new chemicals and materials through AI and robotics, and SCM, a Netherlands-based computational chemistry software company specializing in accurate property prediction methods through atomistic modeling, announced a strategic partnership.


OTHER STORIES

glasstec UPDATE International Conference focused on carbon neutrality with glass

The two-day glasstec UPDATE International Conference explored ways that the glass industry can contribute to a climate-neutral future along the entire value chain without losing its competitiveness.

Lavitt Group celebrates 75 years as an installing retailer of doors and windows

Lavitt Group, a third-generation family-owned company in the business of selling and installing doors and windows for the trade and consumers, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The company is led by Jason and Keith Lavitt, grandsons of the founder, Hal Portnoy.

SCHOTT North America lays foundation to maximize market opportunity

SCHOTT is structuring its presence in North America to align operations with its most robust sales market and accelerate global profitability. The company issued a press release sharing their goals.


MARKET TRENDS

IDTechEx: The most significant advanced materials news from 2021

Richard Collins, research director at IDTechEx, published an article discussing the most significant advanced materials news in 2021. The article includes a look at mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships; public and private funding; and applications. Collins is presenting a free webinar on the topic on Thursday, Dec. 9. Register for the webinar here.


NEW PRODUCTS

Harsco Environmental launches ecoproducts to drive zero-waste philosophy

Material processing and environmental services provider Harsco Environmental announced the launch of its ecoproducts line that provides a sustainable alternative to virgin material. The new service line, formerly named Applied Products, includes 62 products serving seven industries, including refractories.

L&L floor-standing, high-temperature box furnace for processing technical ceramics

The L&L model GLF836 has an effective work zone of 18” wide by 18” high by 36” deep. The furnace has a double pivot horizontal door. It is used for processing glass products to 2,500°F (1,371°C).

3D printer builder publishes book on the basics of additive manufacturing

A new, 60-page book serves as a basic guide to understanding additive manufacturing. Titled The Basics of 3D Printing, it was written by Josef Prusa, founder and CEO of 3D printer manufacturer Prusa Research. The print version of The Basics of 3D Printing is available for $5; the digital edition can be downloaded for free from the Prusa website.

Author

Lisa McDonald