May 2026

Alteo Alumina signed a long-term agreement with HES Fos, a subsidiary of HES International, to cover the maritime unloading, storage, and downstream logistics of hydrated alumina that is going to Alteo’s industrial site in Gardanne, France. The strategy aligns with Alteo’s decarbonization strategy.

Materials Research Furnaces partnered with the University of Arizona’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering to develop a high-temperature, high-vacuum physical testing furnace. The new furnace will support next-generation aerospace innovation, advancing research in hypersonic flight, defense technologies, and additive manufacturing.

The project “BeaT – Renewing Vocational Training for the Automotive Transformation,” coordinated by Fraunhofer IKTS and implemented in collaboration with automotive thüringen e.V. and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, was highlighted as an exemplary initiative by the EU Commission’s Good Practices Catalog Vol. 1. The BeaT project works to address vocational training concepts that come with preparing the workforce for the electrification of the automotive industry.

Japan-based Niterra Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese manufacturer of sparkplugs and sensors, was selected as a member of S&P Global’s Sustainability Yearbook 2026. In 2026, 848 companies were recognized for their sustainability excellence out of more than 9,200 companies. This selection marks the fifth consecutive year that Niterra has been recognized.

Illinois-based Sunrock Ceramics, a specialized manufacturer of high-purity refractory ceramics, announced it was acquired by Power Processing and Technology LLC. Doug Thurman, president of Sunrock Ceramics, says in a press release that “This transaction provides Sunrock Ceramics with the capital and strategic support needed to continue scaling the business.”