Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, saw first-hand the opportunities advanced materials will bring for the future in a tour of Lucideon's Stoke-on-Trent facility.

The Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group has secured £18.27 million in government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF), to put the area firmly on the map as a global centre for advanced ceramics.

Lucideon's Dr Carolyn Grimley will be presenting at the Ceramics Expo that is taking place in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 30 August - 1 September 2021.

Lucideon, in collaboration with i3D robotics, experts in stereo vision systems, and Glass Technology Services, consultants to the glass manufacturing supply chain, has been working on a project to improve production processes within the energy-intensive foundation industries, specifically Glass and Ceramics.

A blueprint setting out the compelling opportunities for the Midlands to position itself as a world leader in advanced ceramics has been launched.

March sees the launch of a new online community for anyone interested in materials.

Colour Standards developed by Lucideon are helping to ensure that the colours captured by the Perseverance mission to Mars are recorded to pinpoint accuracy.

Lucideon has made a key investment in talent across its business, with 11 new recruits joining the team in the UK - and more roles planned imminently.

Lucideon is set to benefit from seven-figure growth from the free trade agreement between the UK and Japan.

Lucideon, along with consortium partners including Vesuvius UK Ltd, Glass Technology Services Ltd, the University of Sheffield and Knowles (UK) Limited is receiving funding as part of the Transforming Foundation Industries programme for the 'Hybrid Sintering for Decarbonisation and Productivity in Manufacturing' project.

• Department for International Trade (DIT) steps up engagement with British industry and farmers as UK trade negotiations intensify
• Eleven new trade advisory groups, covering a range of key sectors, established to provide knowledge and experience
• Insight and expertise of top business people being used to inform UK negotiating position and deliver deals that benefit the whole country.

Government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation's flagship 'Strength in Places Fund' has helped unlock plans to put the Midlands on a unique footing as a global centre for advanced technical ceramics.

Lucideon and PCL Ceramics, a market leader in the manufacture of high-pressure casting equipment, have joined forces to deliver new advances in processing across key market sectors.

Lucideon have scheduled two of its most popular ceramics whitewares training sessions in May and June this year.

Lucideon will again be exhibiting at this year's Ceramics Expo in Ohio, 5 – 6 May. The focus this year will be on showcasing the processing support that Lucideon offers to help businesses overcome seemingly ‘insurmountable’ materials and process challenges.