For several decades, the use of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic (GFRT) composites by the automotive industry has been steadily increasing for standard performance applications.¹ The values that GFRTs bring include intrinsically high specific stiffness, low cost, and the ability to produce parts quickly with minimal manufacturing complexity.

This weekly roundup highlights the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related news stories that garnered the most attention during the previous week.

This weekly roundup highlights the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related news stories that garnered the most attention during the previous week.

Research and development (R&D;) is a key driver for growth in the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related industries. Any company that does not innovate is almost sure to stagnate and eventually lose ground to more forward-thinking competitors. This issue includes our annual R&D; Directory to help manufacturers find the best supplier partners for their specific research and development efforts.

In April 2016, Kyocera International Inc. began a $10 million expansion project for its Vancouver, Wash., manufacturing facility, increasing the existing 40,000-sq-ft space by 45% to 58,000 sq ft. Originally built in 1992 as a R&D; center for advanced ceramic materials, the location now produces high-value-added engineered ceramic components for structural, functional and mechanical applications on a custom order basis.

Stairs, partitions, furniture, wall panels, banisters and parapets—the use of glass in a house knows no limits. Glass provides an unlimited range of design possibilities for architects, as well as interior and furniture designers, due to its interplay with light, reflections, transmission, colors, and textures. This variety of on-trend options enables glass in interior design to offer an innovative alternative to wood, metal or stone. The glass industry caters to the growing demand by providing a multitude of solutions for designing interiors.

A team of researchers at the University of Maryland Energy Research Center and A. James Clark School of Engineering have announced a transformative development in the race to produce batteries that are simultaneously safe, powerful, and affordable.

This weekly roundup highlights the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related news stories that garnered the most attention during the previous week.

This weekly roundup highlights the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related news stories that garnered the most attention during the previous week.

This weekly roundup highlights the ceramic, glass, refractories, brick and related news stories that garnered the most attention during the previous week.