° Corning predicts for 2011 increased demand for special glass installed in tablet computers and smartphones, which employ scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass for touch screen devices. This will also drive increased utilization of platinum components used in these glasses specialties production.
° Cabot Corporation/US and China National Bluestar (Group) Corporation have initiated expansion of fumed silica production capacity Jiangxi Province, PRC. It will be a USD 43 million investment at Cabot Bluestar Chemical (Jiangxi) Co. Ltd. First phase will increase capacity from 5000 to 20000 TPY, second phase is aimed to a final 20000 TPY capacity.
° Guangdong Orient Zirconic Ind. Sci. and Tech. and DCM DECO Metal (DCM) won the approval of Australia authorities to jointly acquire Australia Zircon NL; in May 2010, the Chinese company announced it would invest 40 million Australian dollars to set up the joint venture with DCM, giving itself a 51-percent stake in the scheme to acquire all of Australia Zircon NL’s assets. This is a significant move to control Australian zircon sources, made by Chinese entities.
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