ACCUMET OFFERS LINE OF METAL-COATED CERAMIC MICROSPHERES
A new line of  standard and custom metal-coated ceramic microspheres is now available from Accumet Materials, Co. Accumet’s coated microspheres are hollow ceramic spheres (ranging in particle size and type of coating) that enable design engineers to manufacture high-strength, lightweight parts and improve buoyancy and thermal and acoustical insulation.
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ALCOA PARTNERS WITH CHINALCO TO ACQUIRE 12% STAKE IN RIO TINTO
Alcoa Inc. is partnering with Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) to acquire 12% of the UK common stock of Rio Tinto plc. Alcoa will contribute up to $1.2 billion to the total investment. "We have long believed that Rio Tinto has a world-class portfolio of assets and is very well positioned to prosper in the current mining cycle," said Alain Belda, Alcoa chairman and chief executive officer.
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CONTROL INSTRUMENTS ANALYZERS RECEIVE ATEX APPROVAL
Control Instruments Corp. recently announced that its full line of PrevEx flammability analyzers has received ATEX approval. The analyzers monitor a number of common vapors and are unaffected by temperatures in processes as diverse as flexographic printing and ceramic kilns.
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FERRO LAUNCHES NEW TWO-COMPONENT CMP SLURRY TECHNOLOGY
Ferro Electronic Material Systems has added two-component technology to its patented TruPlane™ family of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) slurries, which enable high-yield processes for next-generation devices. TruPlane slurries are formulated with an optimized low-defectivity ceria particle and provide high selectivity for shallow trench isolation (STI) fabrication processes.
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FREEDONIA PROJECTS INCREASED DEMAND IN U.S. TILE MARKET
Overall, demand for decorative tile is forecast to increase 4.3% per year to four billion square feet in 2011, according to "Decorative Tile," a new report from The Freedonia Group. Demand is dominated by flooring applications, which accounted for nearly four-fifths of total tile demand in 2006 and will continue to spur demand for decorative tile as consumer preferences shift away from carpets and rugs.
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SAINT-GOBAIN ANNOUNCES POSITIVE 2007 RESULTS
The Saint-Gobain Group recently reported 5% organic growth (3.7% price impact, 1.3% volume effect) for 2007. The Group’s five sectors all contributed to the performance, particularly activities that are linked to construction markets in Europe. This strong momentum more than offset the downturn in U.S. construction activities. Emerging countries and Asia, which account for 15% of Group sales and 19% of its operating income, continued to deliver robust growth (+16.6%) across all Group businesses.
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SCHOTT SOLAR TO BUILD PRODUCTION FACILITY IN ALBUQUERQUE
SCHOTT AG of Mainz, Germany, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson recently announced that SCHOTT Solar, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SCHOTT AG, will construct a new solar energy technology production facility in the Mesa del Sol region of Albuquerque, N.M.
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NEW FACILITY OFFERS STAXERA ROOM FOR GROWTH
Staxera GmbH, founded in 2005 as a joint venture of Webasto AG and H.C. Starck GmbH, has opened a new R&D and production center for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) in Dresden, Germany. The decision to move into the facility was made in March 2007 after important technical milestones in product development had been reached. After eight months of construction, a production hall, labs and office space for 35 employees has been finished.
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Mohr Corp. provides ceramic and machinery services to both buyer and seller, from the sale of one machine to entire factories, with its professionally established brokering, liquidation and appraisal organization. For more information, visit www.mohrcorp.com.