In the U.S., November is our month dedicated to giving thanks. Of course, we don’t have many fun songs or TV specials about Thanksgiving, and a lot of Americans probably have their Christmas decorations up before the day’s over (if not before).

Starting last August, Ohio kicked off a one-year recycling pilot program to recover glass bottles from bars and restaurants. After collection, some of the glass will go to local glass manufacturer O-I for use in the production of new containers.

Whether the process is performed by an independent inventor or a corporate entity that regularly files U.S. patent applications, having a patent application(s) drafted, filed, and prosecuted involves a substantial investment in invention development time and costs, as well as legal expenses. An additional emotional investment is often based on the hope that pursuing and protecting the invention(s) will result in financial rewards.

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. 

A new U.S. survey of just over 4,000 adults finds that 65% “strongly agree” or “agree” that glass bottles are 100% recyclable, and 73% always or usually recycle whatever they can.

Plans for the Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorated Products’ (SGCDpro) 50th anniversary celebration were discussed at the society’s recent board meeting in Columbus, Ohio.

I’m writing this column in the midst of a very busy week. Sometime between conference calls and podcast recordings, I realized how little time I now need to spend on tasks that—even just a few years ago—took up the majority of my day.

Ceramic Industry’s 2013-2014 Data Book & Buyers Guide contains the most comprehensive information available for the manufacture of traditional and advanced ceramics, pottery, structural clay products, refractories, and glass.

I shake my head and chuckle to myself every time a new acquaintance assumes the ceramic industry involves only brick or tableware. And don’t get me started on the folks who ask, “So how’s the pottery business?”

Over 40 state legislatures convened in the first quarter of 2013 and, as in previous years, they are actively introducing legislation that has the potential to impact the glass container industry and glass bottle recycling.