Ceramic and glass business news of the week for March 15, 2021

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Allied Mineral Products breaks ground on third manufacturing facility expansion in China

Allied Mineral Products began construction of its newest Chinese manufacturing facility in Jiujiang Town, Nanhai District of Foshan, Guangdong Province. The new facility will measure 17,500 square meters (188,000 sq. ft) with a manufacturing capability of 50,000 metric tons (110 million lbs.) of local product per year.

Plibrico relocates Salem, Ohio construction office to accommodate accelerated growth

The Plibrico Company, a global supplier of industrial refractories, relocated its Salem, Ohio, construction office to a bigger facility. The expansion was fueled by the company’s steady growth in the Midwest over the last five years. The Grand Opening of the new office is scheduled for March 16, 2021.

Australian firm plans rare earth metals facility in South Korea

Australian rare earth producer ASM signed a memorandum of understanding with two regional governments in South Korea to build a rare earth processing plant. The deal includes licences, permits, and a grant that will allow ASM to position its factory near important Korean manufacturing companies, including LG Chemical and Samsung SDI.

Fortum, RDIF to build 116-MW solar park in Russia’s Kalmykia

Finnish utility Fortum Oyj said it will build a 116-MW solar park in the Republic of Kalmykia, Southern Russia in partnership with the Russian Direct Investment Fund. When up and running, the photovoltaic park will be the largest one of its kind in Russia.

White Pine Renewables takes top spot with largest floating solar system in the US

White Pine Renewables completed the Healdsburg Floating Solar Project, which will deliver clean energy to Healdsburg, California, under a 25-year power purchase agreement. The project is the largest floating solar system completed in the United States to date, at 4.78 MW_dc and sited on ponds at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

India’s Sunrise Glass to install 240tpd container furnace

India’s container glass producer Sunrise Glass is adding a new furnace with an installed capacity of 240 TPD. The company currently operates two furnaces with a combined installed capacity of 380 TPD.

Glass works company opening manufacturing facility in Carroll County, Ky

310 Tempering, a Kentucky-based glass manufacturing company, is opening a new production and manufacturing facility in Carroll County. The company plans to hire 80 new full-time and permanent employees by 2025 for the 85,000 square-foot facility.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Northern Data closes acquisition of data center site in Northern Sweden

Northern Data AG successfully closed the acquisition of a highly efficient data center site in Northern Sweden and immediately started to roll out and install the first GPU-based high-performance computing hardware. The center is one of up to five new Scandinavian and Canadian sites that Northern Data is rapidly building and scaling up.

ExOne adds USC Solutions to sales network to support growth in Singapore

The ExOne Company, a global leader in industrial sand and metal 3D printers using binder jetting technology, announced that USC Solutions is now an authorized channel partner to sell ExOne industrial solutions in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Renishaw founders to sell company share

The founders of 3D printing company Renishaw, Sir David McMurtry and John Deer, reportedly plan to sell their 53% share in the company. According to the company’s board, it has agreed the sale, although no buyer has approached it yet with an offer.

Lithoz, Metoxit, Dr. Jens Tartsch partner to produce 3D-printed ceramic dental implants

Lithoz GmbH has started a strategic collaboration with Metoxit and Dr. Jens Tartsch to produce ceramic dental implants via additive manufacturing. Metoxit, a Swiss high-tech ceramics company, develops and produces innovative oxide ceramics. Tartsch is the founder and president of the European Society for Ceramic Implantology ESCI.

Capstone Turbine enters into OEM agreement with clean energy company B+K

Capstone Turbine Corporation signed a new original equipment manufacturer agreement with Professor Dr. Berg & Kießling GmbH (B+K) to continue expanding the range of nonfossil fuels able to power its innovative microturbine-based energy solutions.

SunDensity, U of Rochester sign agreement to further development of energy product

SunDensity announced a research agreement with the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics to speed the manufacturing process and design of its nano-optical coating equipment. SunDensity produces Photonic Smart Coating for utility solar power producers. Its nano-optical coating improves solar output by 20% more than other coatings for solar panels.

NERC invites industry to develop glass recycling legislation

The Northeast Recycling Council, a nonprofit organization working with 11 U.S. states on recycling issues, is creating a work group to develop legislation for minimum post-consumer recycled content requirements for glass beverage, food containers, and fibreglass insulation. The first work group meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

OTHER STORIES

Fuzehub Manufacturing Grants: 2021 application period now open

Fuzehub Manufacturing Grants are designed to encourage collaboration between nonprofit organizations in New York State and companies that work within the manufacturing industry. The application process was recently changed to include a two-phase process, and the deadline for full proposals is March 31. Learn more about the grants here.

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to host additive manufacturing forum again

The Fraunhofer Additive Manufacturing Competence Center is hosting a forum at the Rapid Tech 3D trade congress on June 22, 2021. There will be presentations of six research results for industrial 3D printing.

TMS: First World Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Materials and Manufacturing

The TMS World Congress on Artificial Intelligence in Materials and Manufacturing (AIM 2022) is the first event of its kind to focus on the role of artificial intelligence in materials science and engineering and related manufacturing processes. It will take place April 3–6, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Abstracts are due by Sept. 3, 2021.

AI advocates seek vast expansion of new national initiative

An FYI article covers the highlights of a new report that urges the federal government to dramatically scale up its spending on AI and other emerging technologies to tens of billions of dollars annually, well beyond the levels targeted by the recently enacted National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act.

Old wind turbine blades to reinforce HS2 concrete

The Skanska Costain Strabag joint venture, building the southern section of HS2 phase one, is looking to reinforce its concrete with sections of glass fiber reinforced polymer turbine blades that have reached the end of their operational lives. The proof of concept pilot is due to start in spring 2021 and, if successful, could be followed by a full roll out across the entire 26 km route.

MARKET TRENDS

MRF: The state of hypersonic technology

MRF provides an overview of hypersonic research and technology to date, obstacles that must be overcome, and predictions for the near future.

The world needs syringes—he jumped in to make 5,900 per minute

An article by The New York Times looks at the state of the global syringe market and what it means for the coronavirus vaccination campaign. Steps taken by India-based syringe manufacturer Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices to meet demand are discussed.

Greenland faces hard decisions about rare earth mineral mining

An article on the website Learning English looks at the decisions Greenland’s government faces on whether to approve large mining projects. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Greenland has the world’s biggest undeveloped deposits of rare earth metals.

NEW PRODUCTS

Outline glass sidewall thermally enhanced packages for power semiconductors

StratEdge Corporation announced the increased capacity for manufacturing its small outline thermally enhanced alumina/glass sidewall packages for power semiconductors. The increased capacity is in direct response to increased requests for the product line.

Mini Feeder line screw size and hopper capacities expanded to handle higher feed rates

Vibra Screw, Inc., announced an expansion of screw and hopper sizes in their highly successful line of Mini Feeders for dry material feeding. The new size ranges are designed to accommodate materials that require more retention and conditioning time to ensure proper control and accuracy.

Scissor dock lifts can accommodate a variety of truck bed heights

PDL Series Loading Dock Scissor lifts from Presto ECOA allow users to quickly and safely transfer loads from a variety of truck bed heights to loading docks up to 59”. Standard units are available in 5,000 lbs. and 6,000 lbs. capacities with roll-over capacity of 10,000 lbs.

Pallet truck attachment adjusts load height for improved order picking

The PalletPal Walkie from Southworth Products is an automatic pallet load leveler that mounts on to any standard electric walkie or walkie/rider pallet truck. Built on the proven design of PalletPal Level Loaders, the PalletPal Walkie uses a calibrated spring mechanism to automatically adjust the height of a pallet load as boxes are added or removed.

Brokk Inc., Vacuworx partner to offer vacuum lifting attachments in North America

Brokk, a leading manufacturer of remote-controlled demolition robots, announced the addition of two Vacuworx lifting attachments to its lineup in North America. The vacuum lifting systems, optimized for use with Brokk machines, can attach to and lift up to 2 tonnes of concrete, granite, marble, metal, steel and other flat, nonporous materials.