CGBN


PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Glaston production facilities in full operation

All Glaston glass production facilities in Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and China have successfully maintained operations during the coronavirus pandemic. Access into Glaston’s production facilities is prohibited for external persons such as suppliers, and goods transfers are handled outside of the facilities.

SGD Pharma plots €37 million post COVID-19 expansion

French pharmaceutical glass manufacturer SGD Pharma is plotting a €37 million investment at two sites. It is accelerating the implementation of its 2020 investment plan ahead of what it perceives as extended demand from the health sector in the post COVID-19 world.


ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Kartesia acquires kitchenware brand Pyrex’s distributor in €60m deal

European private credit firm Kartesia acquired cookware business International Cookware Group, the distributor of the Pyrex brand, from Aurora Resurgence, the distressed investment unit of Los Angeles-based Aurora Capital Group. Financial details were not disclosed, but a person familiar with the transaction said the deal was valued at €60m.

Solar researchers across country join forces with industry to boost U.S. solar manufacturing

Working with solar companies, University of Washington and its Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and University of Toledo formed the U.S. Manufacturing of Advanced Perovskites Consortium to accelerate domestic commercialization of perovskite technologies.

Nestlé to co-fund sustainable materials research to tackle plastic waste

Alongside other companies and industry partners, Nestlé announced it will co-fund a new Chair for Sustainable Materials at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, which will focus on the research and development of sustainable materials such as alternative packaging to enable the reduction of plastic waste.


OTHER STORIES

CelSian extends its webinar training program

CelSian has extended its weekly webinar training in May and June. Its three-hour sessions take place every week at 2 PM CET. Webinars consist of presentations on various glass technology aspects, exercises, and quizzes.

Mir Stekla is rescheduled to 2021

Mir Stekla, the international exhibition for glass products, manufacturing, processing, and finishing technology, is rescheduled to June 7–10, 2021.

Angola on the way to becoming a producer of rare-earth minerals

Pensana Rare Earths, the Australian company promoting the first rare-earth mineral project in Longonjo (Angola), said the president of Angola approved an investment contract, valid for 35 years, for exploration in that area of Huambo province.

Ardagh Group awarded ENERGY STAR plant certifications

Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, a business unit of Ardagh Group, was awarded three ENERGY STAR plant certifications for superior energy performance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is the only U.S. glass container manufacturer to earn this recognition.


MARKET TRENDS

Could hydrogen fuel cells revive, threaten battery technology in cars?

In a recent Forbes article, freelance reporter Neil Winton discusses the advantages and challenges to vehicles powered with hydrogen fuel cells, and overviews initiatives around the world to develop such technology.

US wind industry installed over 1,800 MW in first quarter, but coronavirus remains a risk

The first quarter of 2020 saw the U.S. wind industry install more than 1,800 megawatts of new capacity, a report from the American Wind Energy Association revealed. While this number represented more than double the installations compared with the first quarter in 2019, AWEA estimates 25 gigawatts of planned projects are at risk due to COVID-19.


NEW PRODUCTS

Wellness Glass Walls help prevent the spread of viruses

The Sliding Door Company launched Wellness Glass Walls to help those fighting COVID-19. The walls prevent cross-contamination, block airborne particles, and are deployable in under 24 hours, allowing hospitals, urgent care centers, and medical offices to partition off waiting rooms and provide sequestered glass waiting areas for patients.

Specialty vials for biological drugs and vaccines

SiO2 Materials Sciences launched a line of specialty vials for biological drugs and vaccines. According to the company, while the vials share many properties of both glass and plastic, the company conducted and passed all the studies required for regulators to approve the SiO2 Vials as a like for like to glass.

Sizing-dispensing system for bulk abrasive materials

Flexicon’s new sizing-dispensing system for abrasive materials receives, scalps, stores, and dispenses sand, rutile, zircon, and other dense, abrasive materials. The enclosed 10-ft conveyor can handle a broad range of (non)free-flowing bulk materials, including products that pack and seize, with no separation of blends.

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