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Golden’s CoorsTek gives biggest gift ever to Colorado School of Mines

(The Denver Post) Golden-based CoorsTek and crosstown partner Colorado School of Mines announced Thursday that CoorsTek and its Coors family owners are giving the largest gift in the university’s 140-year history—a check for $26.9 million. The technical ceramics firm has designated the donation for construction of the school’s new CoorsTek Center for Applied Science and Engineering.

Bayer to drop its MaterialsScience business

Bayer plans to float its polymer business, known as Bayer MaterialScience, on the stock market as a separate entity in the next 12 to 18 months, leaving the German giant with only pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical activities. BMS has 16,800 workers and annual sales of $15.6 billion from polymers such as polycarbonate and polyurethanes, but it has struggled to post strong returns in recent years.

Ceramic matrix composites market 2014–2018: Leading vendors are 3M Company, Ceradyne, COI Ceramics, General Electric Company, and Ube Industries

Research and Markets has added a “Global Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) Market 2014-2018” report to their offering. The CMC market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.89% over 2013–2018. The full report identifies key vendors and a wide range of topics.

Kyocera joins Imec on advanced silicon solar cell technology

Kyocera Corporation has joined Belgian nanoelectronics research centre Imec’s Industrial Affiliation Program to advance next-generation crystalline silicon solar cells. This multi-partner R&D program aims at increasing the efficiency of solar cells and modules while at the same time lowering the cost for solar energy.

Texas celebrates first N-type solar manufacturing factory

Mission Solar Energy celebrated the grand opening of its state-of-the-art solar panel manufacturing facility at Brooks City-Base. The factory, which is the only N-type solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Texas, will create more than 400 new jobs in San Antonio. The 240,000 square-foot facility is the first producer of N-type solar panels in the U.S.

Schott expands its range of highly resistant sealing glasses for use in fuel cells

Schott now offers strontium- and barium-free sealing glasses for use in solid oxide fuel cells to hermetically seal cells and stacks that consist of metallic and ceramic compounds. These can be applied to metal alloys that contain a share of chromium and are thus also suited for use in low- and medium-temperature fuel cells.

PPI report shows 0.7% increase in flat glass prices in August

Flat glass prices increased in August, regaining the upward trend they’ve seen for much of the year. According to the latest Producer Price Index Report issued this week by the U.S. Labor Department, flat glass prices jumped 0.7 percent from July to August, after seeing their first decrease since January the month before. The flat glass index sits at 121.5.

Philips to separate lighting arm into new company

Royal Philips NV is to split off its lighting division to create two separate companies, the latest in a string of radical restructurings. Philips, which began as a lighting company back in 1891, said Tuesday that “independence” would make it easier for the lighting arm—widely regarded as the dominant seller of LED lighting products—to enter new markets.

Air Products announces major company restructuring

Air Products announced a major company restructuring, with the goal of regaining industry leadership. Effective at the start of Air Products’ 2015 fiscal year (October 1, 2014), the company will realign into seven reporting segments: Industrial Gases (Americas, EMEA, Asia, and Global), Materials Technologies, Energy-from-waste, and Corporate.

Mantec Technical Ceramics introduces new Ultralight Insulating Firebricks

Mantec Technical Ceramics, the British ceramics innovator and manufacturer, has launched new Ultralite™ Insulating Firebricks. UIFB are just half the weight and half the density of comparable firebricks and are manufactured using Mantec’s unique patent pending engineering method.

Ferro enters into agreement to acquire Italian tile coatings manufacturer Vetriceramici

Ferro Corporation has signed a definitive agreement with Milan, Italy-based Private Equity Funds’ Management Company Star Capital SGR S.p.A. and two minority owners and founders to acquire Casola Valsenio, Italy-based Vetriceramici S.p.A. for €83 million (approximately $108 million) in cash.

Magma Ceramics and Catalysts launches range of zirconia crucibles and announces product qualification

Magma launched a range of zirconia crucibles aimed specifically towards customers operating within the superalloy industry. Additionally, following the successful commissioning and integration of Magma’s Vietnamese manufacturing facility earlier this year, the company announced product qualification by its major customers.

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