Ceramic Industry articles from May 2003

Ceramic Industry archives from May 2003

Taking action. (Inside CI).(ceramic makers can accomplish much by joining forces via task forces, associations and other organizations)(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... In today's crazy world, it's easy to feel out of control. The economy is still shaky, and there's not much we can do about it. Imports from Southeast Asia are increasing, and we feel powerless to stop them. State and federal legislators...

Hauck opens office in China. (Ceramics in the News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... In recognition of the tremendous growth in sales the company has experienced in the Asian market, Hauck Manufacturing Co. recently opened its Hauck Combustion, China factory office in Nanjing, China. Hauck provides the latest in combustion...

Hanson integrates seven brick companies across North America. (Ceramics in the News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Seven major brick companies from across the continent recently officially became part of the new Hanson Brick. The Charlotte-based company, which sells more than 1.6 billion brick per year, has 22 plants in Texas, Kentucky, Michigan, the...

Engelhard forms alliance with Nippon Sheet Glass. (Ceramics in the News).(to develop and market special effects pigments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Engelhard Corp. recently announced that it has formed an alliance with Nippon Sheet Glass to develop and market new special effects pigments for makers of coatings, plastics, inks and cosmetics. The two companies are developing new metal oxide...

USG's Industrial Products Division launches redesigned site. (Web Updates).(US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Industrial Products Division of United States Gypsum Co. (USG) has updated its website at www.gypsumsolutions.com to provide more timely and comprehensive content, as well as enhanced interactive assistance, to its customers and prospects....

Fusion debuts site in Japanese. (Web Updates).(Japan)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Fusion CV Systems, Inc. recently announced that its Japanese corporate website is now available. The new site, www.fusionuv.co.jp, is the company's first non-English Internet presence. The website includes much of the same information available...

EPSI unveils updated site. (Web Updates).(US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Engineered Pressure Systems, Inc. (EPSI) recently announced that it has updated its website as a resource to the high-pressure engineering industry. The site, located at www.epsi-highpressure.com, offers an in-depth view of various hot, cold...

Court rejects Corus' application to authorize sale to Pechiney. (Ceramics in the News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Pechiney recently announced that it was informed by the Corus Group plc that the Amsterdam Enterprise Court rejected its application to overrule the decision of the board of Supervisory Directors of its Dutch Subsidiary. As a consequence, Corus...

Imerys Performance Minerals implements energy surcharges. (Ceramics in the News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Imerys North American Performance Minerals Division announced recently that the significant increase in natural gas costs necessitated the implementation of a temporary energy surcharge. Natural gas prices have escalated by 40% recently,...

Battelle's R&D funding forecast for 2003 predicts shift. (Ceramics in the News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Outside factors are deeply impacting the levels of funding for scientific research, according to the recent "R&D Forecast," a joint effort of Battelle and R&D Magazine. Total R&D expenditures in the U.S. are expected to increase about 3.4% to...

Johns Hopkins study expected to help improve ceramic armor. (Ceramics in the News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Writing in the March 7 issue of the journal Science, researchers from The Johns Hopkins University and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory reported that they have discovered why boron carbide, sometimes used in protective armor, experiences a...

Minerex. (People in the News).(appointments, Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Minerex, S.A. de C. V., a raw materials and equipment distributor for the ceramic and refractory industries in Mexico, recently added two new sales representatives. Pedro Posada will be responsible for sales in southern Mexico, including Mexico...

ZIRCAR Ceramics, Inc. (People in the News).(appointment, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Chris Decker was recently appointed international sales engineer for ZIRCAR Ceramics, Inc. He holds a bachelor's of science degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University and brings over 15 years of hands-on technical ceramics...

Hauck Manufacturing Co. (People in the News).(appointment, China)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Zhu He Ping has been chosen to manage Hauck Combustion, China. Hauck Manufacturing Co. recently opened a new factory office in Nanjing, China, to serve the Asian market (for more information on the new office, see page 10).

Ceradyne, Inc. (People in the News).(appointments, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Ceradyne, Inc. recently announced two promotions. Jeff Waldal, president of Ceradyne Semicon Associates, has been named vice president of Ceradyne, Inc. He remains president of Semicon and directs operations, marketing and finance for that...

Shenango Advanced Ceramics LLC. (People in the News).(appointment, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Jim Gilson was recently named director of operations for Shenango Advanced Ceramics LLC. Prior to joining Shenango, he worked for Swindell Dressler.

Superconductive Components, Inc. (People in the News).(appointment, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Superconductive Components, Inc. recently announced that Daniel Rooney, president and chief executive officer, has been elected to the additional position of chairman. Rooney succeeds Edward R. Funk, Sc.D., who died in December 2002.

Homexx International. (People in the News).(appointment, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Adam Lang has been named plant manager for Homexx International. He previously served as general manager for Ceram-Tek.

Hitco Carbon Composites, Inc. (People in the News).(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Hitco Carbon Composites, Inc., an affiliate of the SGL Carbon Group, recently announced the appointment of three new vice presidents. The company's increased presence in the European Union is now supported by Joachim A. Hildemann, vice...

Laufen/United States Ceramic Tile Co. (People in the News).(appointment, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Laufen/United States Ceramic Tile Co. recently announced that Tony Aliberti will represent the two companies as Northeast regional sales manager. He brings with him over 17 years of experience in the area of ceramic tile, having worked in sales...

Alfred University. (People in the News).(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Alastair N. Cormack, Ph.D., the Van Derck Frechette Professor of Ceramic Science, has been named director of the Graduate School at Alfred University. Cormack, a former dean of the School of Ceramic Engineering and Materials Science, has been...

AERONEX[R]. (People in the News).(appointment, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... AERONEX[R] recently announced that it has selected Jeffrey Birks to serve as its service manager. He will be responsible for all after-sale customer interaction, satisfaction and support for the company's products and services. In addition, he...

BYK-Gardner USA. (People in the News).(appointments)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... BYK-Gardner USA recently announced two additions to its Retail Color Systems Division. Mike Burns has been named director of sales, Color Systems, and Elaine Becker was appointed product manager, Color Systems. Burns and Becker have over 40...

Diversified Ceramic Services, Inc. (People in the News).(appointments, US)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Eric Nedreberg and Ron Stowers, in affiliation with Diversified Ceramic Services, Inc., have become agents for Basic Machinery Co. for products associated with the ceramic industry. They will cover accounts in the Northeastern and Midwestern...

Overview of refractories research. (Refractories Review).(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2003... Throughout the decades, the refractories industry has continually developed new and improved products. Some of the research activities around the world, on just three of the many important topics, are mentioned below. Raw Materials ...

Case study: clearing the air with cartridges; a new cartridge dust collection system is helping Thermal Ceramics significantly improve the air quality in its ceramic fiberboard manufacturing plant.
May 1, 2003... Thermal Ceramics, Augusta, Ga., a leading producer of high-temperature insulating products, wanted to find a more efficient way to control dust generated during the finishing of its vacuum-formed Kaowool[R] ceramic fiber boards. Highly...

Breaking the rules. (Kiln Connection).(case histories to demonstrate what can happen when poorly designed equipment is purchased)
May 1, 2003... Lately, I have been visiting companies that are "on the edge" financially, due to a variety of reasons--foreign competition, poor yields and process practice, or bad equipment. These companies always have one thing in common: kilns that are...

Investing in ceramics: revolutionizing RF; PSC's laboratory equipment upgrade enables it to perform feasibility studies using combinations of radio frequency, convection and infrared technologies.
May 1, 2003... PSC inc. has been in business since 1969, serving the ceramic, fiberglass, foam and other industries with radio frequency (RF) ovens and dryers. In 1999, the company was purchased by C.A. Litzler Co., a manufacturer of convection and infrared...

Firing innovations: supplier/manufacturer collaborations have resulted in new firing technologies that can significantly reduce firing cycles and/or energy consumption, increase product quality and enhance overall productivity.
May 1, 2003... In today's advanced ceramics industry, innovation is more important than ever in maintaining a competitive market position. Manufacturers must continue to develop higher quality, higher performance products while simultaneously reducing...

Kilns 101: understanding the different kiln types; by understanding the differences and similarities between the various kiln designs, you can be better prepared to make the right selection for your plant.
May 1, 2003... It's time to buy a new kiln. You open Ceramic Industry's annual Data Book & Buyers' Guide to find a kiln, but suddenly you feel overwhelmed by the different selections available. Do you need a bell, belt-type, or bending and con-vexing kiln?...

Microwave hybrid drying: a new drying technology can shorten drying times, reduce drying defects, increase the potential for product innovation and provide a seamless integration into automated manufacturing systems. (Special Section: Drying).
May 1, 2003... "Are microwave drying systems a good investment?" This question is often asked in the ceramic industry. The answer is a resounding "yes" for many applications. Although the technology is still relatively new, physical models have demonstrated...

Ensuring uniform drying: drying problems can often be avoided by ensuring that your drying process is as uniform as possible. (Special Section: Drying).
May 1, 2003... It is widely known that ceramic bodies that contain a great deal of clay will shrink significantly during the initial stages of drying. If drying takes place faster on one side of a piece than on the other, the sides also shrink at a different...

Machine-molded brick: companies such as Acme Brick are using machine molding technology to achieve efficient production of "handmade" brick. (Special Section: Brick & Clay Record).
May 1, 2003... Handmade brick are increasing in popularity among builders and consumers. In fact, some communities, such as the New Albany development in central Ohio, have even begun issuing deed restrictions permitting only handmade brick structures.1 While...

A positive impact: a new impactor has significantly reduced downtime and increased production efficiency for Robinson Brick Co. (Special Section: Brick & Clay Record).
May 1, 2003... Robinson Brick Co., Denver, Colo., was formed in 1880 and is the oldest and largest brick manufacturer in Colorado. Operating with approximately 250 employees, the company manufactures 100 million brick annually, as well as an extensive line of...

The "final" MACT rule? (Special Section: Brick & Clay Record).
May 1, 2003... On March 5, 2003, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA issued the final National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Brick and Structural Clay Products Manufacturing and Clay Ceramics Manufacturing, commonly...

Milling and classifying technology. (New Products).(Eirich Machines)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Eirich Machines Inc., Noll GmbH A new combination of Eirich milling and Noll classifying technologies has created the Eirich MaxxMill[R] and the Noll MultiNo[R]-SE classifier. According to the companies, producers who have previously...

Microporous insulation. (New Products).(Unifrax)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Unifrax Corp. The Excelfrax[R] family of microporous insulation products reportedly exhibits extremely efficient insulating characteristics. The material is composed of inorganic oxides (primarily fumed silica), and silicates and...

Ceramic tile press. (New Products).(Sacmi)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Sacmi According to the company, its PH 3020 press was specifically designed for manufacturers seeking a competitive edge through high productivity. This machine combines a considerable load width with fast tile-forming cycle speeds....

Automatic lubrication system. (New Products).(Midwestern Industries)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Midwestern Industries, Inc. This company's automatic lubrication system for round, vibratory separators reportedly reduces maintenance time and expense. The lubrication system can be factory-installed on all new ME and MR series Gyra-Vib...

Ceramic Services, Inc. (Literature Showcase).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Ceramic Services, Inc. produces dryers and gas fired periodic kilns for your specific products in as little as three months from your order to the first bum. These robust kilns are built with uniformity and flexibility. Simple push button...

The Kanthal Corporation. (Literature Showcase).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Specially formulated elements are Kanthal's new SUPER stars. Now, there are 4 new SUPER Elements to better handle specific applications. * SUPER ER - oxidizing, inert & reducing atmospheres to 1600[degrees]C. * SUPER HT - longer life,...

Kromschroder Inc. (Literature Showcase).(introduces high velocity excess air burner with capacities for 260,000 Btu/hr to 1,000,000 Btu/hr)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Kromschroder introduces the BIC...L high velocity excess air burner with capacities for 260,000 Btu/hr to 1,000,000 Btu/hr. The BIC...L turner is sold with the silicon carbide firing tube, ignition and ionization electrodes, integral limiting...

Heating elements/sources. (Literature Showcase).(Micropyretics Heaters International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Three comprehensive handbooks on heating elements and radiative and convective heat sources offer information on energy savings & thermal treatment by different heat sources. MHI is an integrated manufacturer of the convective Airtorch[TM],...

PSC, Inc. (Literature Showcase).(is a leader in radio frequency ceramic dryer systems)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... PSC is a leader in radio frequency (RF) ceramic dryer systems. Perfect RF combination dryers offer RF and convection technology in one integrated drying system. PSC dryers support lean manufacturing by reducing drying times from hours to...

Surface area and pore size analyzers. (Literature Showcase).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Quantachrome Instruments' new NOVA e series of surface area and pore size analyzers has been redesigned and includes models with one-, two-, three- and four-sample ports. New ergonomic cabinet styling improves access to analysis and sample...

Russell Finex separator. (Literature Showcase).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Finex separator is a high-quality, high-performance sieving and screening machine ideal for sizing, grading, scalping, check screening, dewatering and product recovery. The four available sizes--30, 40, 48 and 60 in--are all capable of...

Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. (Literature Showcase).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Saint-Gobain's Ceramic Systems business unit is built on the technical synergies of Norton, Cesiwid, AnnaWerk and Carborandum. Our refractory trademarks include Advancera, Crystar[R], AnnaSicon[R], Zirnorile[R], Hexoloy[R], Altrax[R] and...

Sonic-Mill. (Literature Showcase).(company's state-of-the-art contract machine shop can machine special parts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Sonic-Mill's on-site, state-of-the-art contract machine shop can machine special parts for customers' R&D, low volume and full production quantity needs. The company has capabilities for a variety of unique applications in technical ceramic and...

High temperature insulation and refractories. (Literature Showcase).(new from Thermal Ceramics)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Thermal Ceramics offers a complete line of high temperature insulation and refractory materials including ceramic fiber blanket, boards and modules, insulating tirebrick and fired ceramic kiln furniture and glass contact shapes. These...

Feldspar and nepheline syenite fluxes. (Literature Showcase).(from Unimin)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Unimin Corp. offers a complete portfolio of sodium and potassium feldspars and nepheline syenites for cost effective fluxing options over the widest possible operating range. Whether your objective is accelerated fusion, improved strength and...

International calendar.(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... MAY * 11-13 ACerS Structural Clay Products Division Spring Meeting, Days Inn Hotel & Conference Center, Mississauga, Canada, (614) 794-5819, e-mail cschnitzer@acers.org 12-13 Coatings on Glasses, New York State College of Ceramics,...