Financial success concept

Usable Glass Strength Coalition funds Penn State research

The Usable Glass Strength Coalition has awarded $110,000 to Pennsylvania State University to carry out research to improve the understanding of manufactured glass products’ strength properties. The work, Controlling and understanding reactive surface sites on multicomponent glasses, aims to characterize the distribution and chemical nature of reactive surface sites on glass that nucleate strength-controlling defects. Under the auspices of the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council, the UGSC is a cross-industry coalition to advance, develop, and promote fundamental, precompetitive research applicable to increasing glass strength across all sectors (container, flat, specialty, fiber, etc.). Its goal is to place all research results in the public domain and not to seek patent protection, although coalition participants have access to research results before they are made public.

Malvern acquires nanoparticle characterization company

Malvern Instruments Ltd. (Malvern, UK) has acquired nanoparticle characterization company NanoSight Ltd. (Amesbury, UK). NanoSight has developed and commercialized a patented technology that enables the rapid and simultaneous multiparameter analysis and characterization of many different types of nanoscale particles. NanoSight employs around 50 people worldwide and will continue to operate from its current facilities in Amesbury. Malvern’s direct sales channels in key locations will make the instruments and tech support accessible to a wider market, the company says.

British Columbia cement industry reaches sustainable milestone

Just two years after its launch in Canada, a new cement type that results in 10% lower CO2 emissions is becoming the preferred standard for the majority of new concrete construction projects in British Columbia, according to the Cement Association of Canada. Contempra cement now accounts for nearly 50% of domestic cement consumed in the province. As a result, 23,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year have been taken out of the atmosphere, according to the association. Contempra is manufactured by intergrinding regular clinker with up to 15% limestone. The lower-carbon cement is manufactured by Lafarge at its Richmond cement plant and by Lehigh Hanson at its Delta plant.

Kyocera announces new consumer products division

Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp. has introduced a Consumer Products Division, a new business unit that incorporates the Application Products Division of Kyocera Tycom Corp. The company says integration of the Application Products Division will facilitate expansion of Kyocera’s North 
American Advanced Ceramic cutlery and kitchenware business, streamline operations, and position the 
new division for continued growth. 
Sales, marketing, and resharpening services will continue to 
operate from Kyocera’s Costa Mesa, Calif., facility, while order fulfillment and inventory
 have been relocated to the company’s Fremont, Calif., distribution center.
 Kyocera also recently announced it has shipped more than 10 million advanced ceramic 
knives globally.

 

Plibrico adds East Coast sales support

Plibrico Co. LLC, a Chicago, Ill., manufacturer and installer of aluminosilicate and high-alumina monolithic refractories,  has installed Markus Teepe as East Coast Area sales manager for its Refractory Materials Division. Teepe has 14 years of experience in refractory sales and marketing, having previously worked for Wahl Refractory Solutions, The Zampell Co., and Vesuvius USA. He will be based out of Plibrico’s sales office in the Knoxville, Tenn., area.

Author

Jim Destfani