PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Pentagon, Lynas sign contract to kick off design work for US rare earths facility

Rare earth producer Lynas Corp said it signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to begin initial design work for its heavy rare earth separation facility in Texas for which the Pentagon is providing initial funding.

Baker Hughes donates OKC Energy Innovation Center to Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University officials and Baker Hughes announced the latter is donating its Energy Innovation Center to the university, which is taking over its management and operations. A release announcing the donation stated the switchover is part of a collaboration to bring both industry and academic experts under one roof.

Axpo subsidiary to build 37 new solar plants in France

Swiss utility Axpo Holding AG said its subsidiary Urbasolar would build 37 new solar plants in France. The plants will be mostly built in southern France and have a combined installed capacity of 143 megawatts, which is enough to cover the annual power consumption of 65,000 households.

Red-D-Mix Concrete planning new batch plant in Ashwaubenon

Plans for a new batch plant at the existing Red-D-Mix Concrete site at 2885 Allied St. in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, were forwarded to the village board for final approval July 28. On July 7, the Ashwaubenon Site Plan Review Committee approved a site plan for locating the new batch plant immediately east of the existing one.

Guardian Glass launches new coater in Czestochowa, Poland

Guardian Glass started full production on a new glass coater at its second facility in Czestochowa, Poland, on July 6. Operations are expected to begin in September 2020. The coater will enable the plant to expand production of low-E, solar control glass products for residential and commercial applications.

UAE starts first nuclear reactor at controversial Barakah plant

The United Arab Emirates announced it started operations in the first of four reactors at the Barakah nuclear power station, the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world. The plant has raised myriad concerns among nuclear energy veterans who are concerned about potential risks, from an environmental catastrophe to a nuclear arms race.


ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Linde partners with 3D Medlab to optimize 3D printed lattice structures for medical devices

Munich-based chemical company Linde Group partnered with clinical printing specialist 3D Medlab to research optimizing atmospheric conditions within the 3D printing process. In particular, the companies will conduct a series of atmospheric trials, with the aim of developing a smoother, cleaner method of recycling gases during production.

Brookfield Renewable acquires 1200 MW solar project in Brazil

Brookfield Renewable Partners, alongside its institutional partners, announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire a 1200 MW advanced solar development project in Brazil, which will be targeted for completion in early 2023.


OTHER STORIES

New podcast: In Machines We Trust

On August 12, MIT Technology Review is launching In Machines We Trust, a podcast about the automation of everything. In season one, host Jennifer Strong explores the powerful ways that artificial intelligence is shaping modern life.

Webinar: Ceramics additive manufacturing—pioneering through cooperation

At ACerS next webinar, Johannes Homa (CEO at Lithoz) and Dale Cillessen (Sandia National Lab) will share a mixture of expertise and strategies on maximizing benefits of ceramic additive manufacturing. Registration for the event is full, but you may sign up here to receive an email with a link to the recording.

81st Conference on Glass Problems to be held virtually

The Glass Manufacturing Industry Council announced that the 81st Conference on Glass Problems will be held virtually, Oct. 26–30, 2020. The Council will provide full details and open registration on August 3.

NSG Group ramps up antiviral coating research in the fight against COVID-19

The NSG Group is fast tracking its research into producing glass with an antiviral coating. The company’s research into anti-microbial glass was already at an advanced stage prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the outbreak has made it a key priority. Its work has been supported by a grant from Innovate UK.

Merseyside Glass Futures project set to receive £9m funding as part of COVID recovery

The Glass Futures project in St Helens, England, is expected to receive £9m public funding as part of plans to boost the region’s COVID-19 recovery. The 90,000 sq.ft. center will aim to revolutionize and eliminate CO2 from glass production.

Department of Energy announces $100 million for artificial photosynthesis research

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $100 million for two awards focused on advancing artificial photosynthesis. The Liquid Sunlight Alliance, led by California Institute of Technology and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, is pursuing an approach called “co-design.” The Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels, led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, seeks to develop hybrid photoelectrodes for fuel production.


MARKET TRENDS

Will COVID-19 accelerate the shift toward electric light commercial vehicles?

The recent IDTechEx report “Electric Light Commercial Vehicles 2020–2030” provides a 10-year outlook for the developing electric light commercial vehicle market around the world and predicts the pandemic will accelerate the move to electric vehicles.

Samsung slump makes Huawei the world’s biggest smartphone brand for the first time

Huawei became the world’s top smartphone seller last quarter, overtaking Samsung for the first time ever, according to a recent independent market research report. The report says Huawei’s victory was due to COVID-19. The company took advantage of the economic recovery in China, where Huawei now sells over 70% of its smartphones.


NEW PRODUCTS

400-gallon mixing and pumping skid system

ROSS recently designed a new skid system capable of mixing and pumping low to moderately viscous products. The Model VSL-400 design is a custom conical vessel on a movable skid with a progressive cavity pump rated for 10–30 gallons/minute.

Author

Lisa McDonald