Welcome to our first annual CI Top 10 Advanced Ceramic Manufacturers issue! The advanced sector continues to grow as an increasing number of design engineers and manufacturers in industries like aerospace, electronics, defense, medical/dental, and more recognize the multiple benefits that specialty ceramics and glasses can provide. The CI Top 10 lists the leading worldwide manufacturers of these components to provide readers with an overview of the top players in the industry.

To compile the CI Top 10, we sent a survey to subscribers requesting information such as annual revenue, number of employees, etc. (We’d like to say a special “thank you” to all of those who took the time to complete the survey!) We then combined the results of that survey with additional details from company websites, annual reports, press releases and company contacts to finalize the rankings. 

Whether you’re producing advanced specialty ceramics or a more traditional product like whitewares or brick, ceramic manufacturing can be a complicated task, encompassing multiple processes that must all work in concert to produce the final product. The kiln is an integral part of that process, and one that is often not fully understood. In this issue, Ahead of the Curve shares some of the important firing curve and kiln design considerations that all ceramic manufacturers should be aware of. 

 Our staff made every effort to include the industry’s top companies in the CI Top 10 Advanced Ceramic Manufacturers listing. If you believe your company should be included, or if you’d like to share some feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (330) 336-4098 or suttons@bnpmedia.com.