News Releases

Morgan Technical Ceramics (MTC) recently hosted a group of eighteen materials science students, from the United Kingdom’s renowned Oxford University, at its manufacturing site in Hayward, California. The trip was part of a student-organized tour of advanced materials industries and facilities in a number of countries. The students toured the site’s manufacturing facilities, which produce precious and non-precious metal braze alloys and brazed assemblies, as well as custom made ceramic components from 94-99.8 percent alumina.

The group of sixteen undergraduates, two PhD candidates and an academic advisor received partial sponsorship of travel expenses from Morgan Ceramics, a Division of UK based Morgan Crucible plc to make the trip, which also included visits to several other advanced materials manufacturing facilities and Stanford University’s materials research laboratories.

“The Hayward site was pleased to host the lively and interested group of future materials science engineering professionals,” said Jennifer Holden, export compliance manager for Morgan Ceramics, North America, who organized the busy day. “The students found the manufacturing facilities fascinating and asked a lot of stimulating questions. We had to have the coach wait an extra hour so they could see everything they wanted to.”

According to student organizer Camden Ford, of St Catherines College, Oxford, “The tours were deeply interesting, and the enthusiasm of the staff and the depth of their knowledge in their chosen field were inspiring.” He added, “We saw as much as we could see in a single day, from the metal side, including rolling, laser cutting, braze alloys and melt spun foils. From the ceramics side, we were introduced to metallization of alumina, as well as sintering and pressing processes. Since our course covers all of these processes in detail, seeing them actually being put to use for the creation of products really helped us see the value of what we study here.” Another student said, “The MTC stop was the best on this current tour. There are so many sciences involved in manufacturing ceramics.”

After the tour, the students were presented with Morgan Technical Ceramics mementos, and the students in turn expressed their appreciation by presenting MTC with a host of items bearing the university crest.