Cookson Group plc, a materials science company, provides products, processes, and services to the ceramics, electronics, and precious metals markets worldwide. Its Ceramics division engages in the supply of advanced consumable products and systems to the steel and foundry industries, as well as specialty products to the glass and solar industries under the brand names of Vesuvius and Foseco. It also involves in the supply and installation of monolithic refractory linings. This division offers VISO and VAPEX products, slide-gate and tube changer systems and refractories, gas purging and temperature control devices, and mould and tundish fluxes to control, regulate, and protect the flow of steel in the enclosed continuous casting process. In addition, it offers castables, gunning materials, ramming mixes, pre-cast shapes, tap hole clay, bricks, and mortars; feeding systems, filters, metal treatments, metal transfer systems, crucibles, stoppers, sand binders, coatings, and molding materials to the foundry industry; and Solar Crucibles for use in the manufacture of photovoltaic panels and tempering rollers used in the glass industry. The companys Electronics division supplies consumable electronic assembly materials to the assemblers of printed circuit boards and semi-conductor packaging industry; and advanced surface treatment and electro-plating chemicals for the electronics, industrial, and automotive industries. Its Precious Metals division offers fabricated precious metals, primarily gold, silver, and platinum to the jewelry industry in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain, as well as has precious metal refining and recycling operations in Europe. This divisions products include alloy materials, semi-finished jewelry components, and finished jewelry.