• China-based Suntech Power Holdings is closing its only solar panel-making plant in the US to cut costs, two years after opening the facility. Suntech opened the plant in Goodyear, Arizona, in September 2010, saying that making panels in the US would reduce time, costs and greenhouse gas emissions related to sourcing panels from overseas. The plant, however, has been weighed down by US import tariffs on solar cells and aluminum frames, as well as a global panel oversupply.
• Capital Refractories is teaming with US group eCullet to form a joint venture called Glass to Glass LLC. The joint venture will invest in sophisticated glass sorting equipment that will make more recycled glass available for use in O-I plants.
• Zimbabwe government is planning to temporarily lift the ban on chrome ore exports and introduce a value addition levy on all exports to raise money for the expansion of the country’s smelting capacity.
• Capital Refractories says it will have a display at CastExpo April 6-9, 2013, in St. Louis, MO. The company specializes in supplying refractory linings and associated products to metal melting, foundry, and cement industries around the world. It manufactures a wide range of dry vibration rammable products for lining coreless induction furnaces, vacuum coreless induction furnaces, and channel induction furnaces for the melting of steel and high-temperature alloys, iron, copper, bronze, aluminum, and masteralloys.
• Dyson Technical Ceramics announced that the company will have a display at Ceramics China Exhibition, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, May 29-June 1, 2013. DTC specializes in the innovation and manufacture of advanced zirconia and tin oxide refractory ceramics. Dyson’s products are used in the steel, glass, powder metallurgy, investment casting, precious metal, super alloy and foundry industries.