Ceramic and glass business news of the week for April 29, 2024

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Rio Tinto, Eramet, and LG Energy seek to develop lithium extraction tech for Chile

Rio Tinto, Eramet, and LG Energy are among 30 companies that have submitted proposals to state-run mining body ENAMI to develop lithium extraction technology for a Chilean salt flat called Salares Altoandinos in the early stages of exploration.

Kyrgyzstan light bulb company plans to manufacture glass bottles

The Mailuu-Suu Electric Bulb Plant in Kyrgyzstan plans to master the production of glass containers. The bulb plant also plans to expand the production of LED lamps, build a small hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 26.4 megawatts on Mailuu-Suu river, and master the production of mineral glass wool for insulation of walls and floors.

O-I holds topping-off event for its all-new MAGMA facility in Kentucky

O-I Glass, Inc. achieved a major milestone in the initial construction of its glass packaging production facility in Bowling Green, Ky. To recognize this key milestone, the company hosted a “topping-off” event to commemorate the placement of the final beam.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Allied Mineral Products acquires Gemcast

Allied Mineral Products, LLC purchased Gemcast, Inc. The acquisition will allow Allied to have a manufacturing presence in Canada and adopt new lines of business through Gemcast’s industry-leading vacuum-formed products, fiber gaskets, and precast shapes.

Energy Fuels to lead rare earth oxides market with Base Resources acquisition

Energy Fuels Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire all issued shares of Base Resources Ltd. The transaction will give Energy Fuels full ownership of the Toliara heavy mineral sands project in Madagascar, known for its low-cost monazite production, a byproduct of titanium and zirconium.

Partnering to double Louisiana’s energy workforce

In January 2024, Louisiana State University led a team of more than 50 education, industry, government, community, and capital partners to win the largest, most competitive grant ever awarded by the National Science Foundation to expand the state’s energy industry through workforce and technology development.

BW Ideol and Holcim to explore use of low-carbon concrete in floating offshore wind

BW Ideol and Holcim signed a memorandum of understanding for a feasibility study on supplying beneficial low-carbon concrete for the floating offshore wind industry, with particular reference to Scotland.

BASF and UC Berkeley celebrate their successful 10-year collaboration

BASF and the University of California, Berkeley, are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their collaboration known as the California Research Alliance. The multidisciplinary research center is focused on evaluating new materials, technologies, and processes that will help address key sustainability challenges.

OTHER STORIES

3Dnatives launches virtual event ADDITIV Design World

3Dnatives launched, through its event platform ADDITIV, the first-ever edition of ADDITIV Design World, which is dedicated to exploring the role of design in additive manufacturing. This half-day virtual event will be dedicated to delving into the role of design in 3D printing and will take place on May 23, 2024, from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Eastern.

Amber urges Ireland to focus more on materials science

In a position paper published April 23, Amber, the Science Foundation Ireland research center for advanced materials and bioengineering, urged the country to provide more funding to materials science to support the green and digital transitions.

IEA calls for sixfold expansion of global energy storage capacity

The International Energy Agency issued its first report on the importance of battery energy storage technology in the energy transition. It found that tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030 would require 1,500 GW of battery storage.

MARKET TRENDS

Report: Mining burden of new energy technologies is smaller than that of fossil fuels

Low-emissions energy sources have a smaller mining footprint than coal and natural gas, according to a new report from the Breakthrough Institute. The report’s findings add to a growing body of evidence that technologies used to address climate change will lead to a future with less mining than a world powered by fossil fuels.

Opinion: America’s ‘big glass’ dominance hangs on the fate of two powerful new telescopes

Eric D. Isaacs, president of Carnegie Science, and Thomas F. Rosenbaum, president of Caltech, wrote an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times arguing that the U.S. risks falling behind in astronomy and cosmology if the National Science Foundation does not fund two giant telescope projects.

NEW PRODUCTS

World’s largest 3D printer unveiled in the US, can print a house in under 80 hrs

The University of Maine unveiled the world’s largest 3D printer, dubbed the “Factory of the Future.” This massive printer is capable of producing objects measuring 96 feet in length, 32 feet in width, and 18 feet in height. Notably, it boasts exceptional speed, with a printing capacity of around 500 pounds per hour, surpassing many other printers on the market.

ASTM International to develop suite of standards for additive construction

ASTM International’s F42 additive manufacturing technologies committee is developing a suite of proposed standards that will be used for quality assurance and quality control of materials and components used for additive construction with cementitious materials.

Premier Graphene announces positive test results on its graphene-enhanced concrete

Premier Graphene announced achievements in the integration of graphene with construction materials. Its graphene-infused cement exhibited enhanced resistance and strength, alongside quicker drying times, which collectively contribute to considerable cost savings on large-scale construction projects.