Awards, Milestones & Celebrations
American Chemical Society names Honeywell scientists ‘Heroes of Chemistry’
Ten Honeywell UOP scientists recently were recognized with the Heroes of Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society for their development and commercialization of a renewable jet fuel manufacturing process.
The process technology to create renewable jet fuel from waste oils and fats was developed by these Honeywell scientists, which began commercial-scale production in January 2016, with United Airlines first instituting use of the fuel in March. The fuel produces 50 to 80 percent fewer greenhouse gases than and can be blended seamlessly with conventional jet fuel.
Honeywell’s Flourine Products team was also recognized by ACS for its development of a refrigerant for mobile air conditioning systems with a global warming potential of less than one.
Courtesy of Ensinger
With the Heroes of Chemistry Award, ACS recognizes companies’ talent, creativity and innovation, as well as product success. Award recipients will be honored at an awards banquet August 21 in Philadelphia.
Ensinger celebrates 50th anniversary
Plastics processor Ensinger recently celebrated 50 successful years in business during a 500-person ceremony in Boeblingen, Germany.
The event brought together local employees and those from abroad, long-term customers and suppliers, and the Ensinger family, as well as honored guests from politics and business including former German President Dr. Horst Köhler, who spoke at the celebration.
Managing Directors Dr. Roland Reber and Klaus Ensinger addressed the audience with a history of the company and a view of its future. "Our culture is here to stay, as are our values. We will remain a family firm,” Klaus Ensinger said during their presentation.
The company, which Wilfried Ensinger began in a garage in Ehningen, German in 1966, now holds sites and sales offices in important economic regions worldwide.
Manufacturing Safety Excellence Awards nomination period is open now
Rockwell Automation recently opened the nomination period for the 2016 Manufacturing Safety Excellence Awards, which honor the world’s safest manufacturing companies.
The awards program, now in its fourth year, celebrates companies that go beyond compliance, making safety an integral part of company culture. Winning companies exhibit three key pillars of a compreshensive safety program: a strong safety culture, well-executed compliance procedures and effective use of current, machine-safety technology.
The awards are open to manufacturers, machine builders (OEMs) or system integrators. To submit a nomination, visit rockwellautomation.com for more information. Nominations must be submitted by Aug. 31, 2016.
New Age Industries gives employees 49 percent ownership
New Age Industries CEO Ken Baker recently transferred 9 percent of the company’s shares to its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), bringing employee ownership to 49 percent.
The ESOP shares, which are given to employees at no cost, are bought by the ESOP through an internal company loan, and when an employee retires, the ESOP buys that member’s shares, providing him or her with money for retirement.
"My father started the company, and I watched him grow it into a successful corporation. I’ve been here thirty years, and I didn’t want to see a competitive buyout and then watch all that hard work be broken apart or assimilated," Baker explained. "It’s important to me to see our dedicated team members – especially the long term people – rewarded for all their hard work."
InterMoor completes involvement in Shell Malikai TLP float-off operation
InterMoor Pte, along with its foundations and moorings business, has safely completed involvement in the Shell Malikai Tension Leg Platform (TLP) float-off operations in Malaysia.
InterMoor was responsible for the marine aspects of the project and towing of the TLP to the float-off location in the Singapore Straits. InterMoor provided engineering analysis and procedures, project management for the nearshore operations and management of chartered vessels, among other services.
Proco Products receives ANSI/NSF 61 certification
Proco Products Inc. received ANSI/NSF 6 certification for six products in July. ANSI/NSF 61 certifies companies which manufacture, sale or distribute potable water or products. To receive certification, companies must meet stringent requirements for the control of equipment that comes in contact with either potable water or support products.
RT Dygert receives UK safety approval on six compounds
The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme approved six RT Dygert compounds for use in drinking water sealing applications in the United Kingdom.
To receive certification, RT Dygert had to meet WRAS’ stringent standards. The certification deems the compounds safe and hygienic for all public water applications in areas under WRAS governance.
Acquisitions, Expansions & Partnerships
Motion Industries announces acquisition of OBBCO, breaks ground in Dallas
On July 19, Motion Industries Inc. officially entered an agreement to acquire OBBCO Safety & Supply LLC, an industrial safety distributor of personal protective equipment, hazardous storage and other related equipment. Closing was set for August 1.
Also in July, Motion Industries broke ground on a new, expanded distribution center in the Dallas-area, which will provide accelerated fulfilment speed and reduce freight costs. The 156,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open in March 2017.
Hapman brings its full line to South America
Bulk material handling equipment designer and manufacturer Hapman entered a licensee partnership with Mavind Industria Mecanica LTDA of Brazil, which will allow its full line of bulk material handling equipment to be represented in South America.
Mavind, which works to support material handling equipment needs and provide AutoCAD design and layout, fabrication and on-site project management assistance, has a relationships with industrial processing companies throughout South America.
NOVADIP moves to new specialized facility
Biopharmaceutical company NOVADIP, creators of three-dimensional tissue derivation from adipose stem cells, recently moved into a highly specialized facility at the Watson & Crick Hill Research and Technology Parc in Mont-Sait-Guibert, Belgium.
The new facility, which began development in December 2015, houses state-of-the-art GMP cleanrooms for producing clinical batches for upcoming clinical trials, two R&D and QC labs, and ample space for the company’s 16-person team, which is expected to grow.
NOVADIP, whose products are used to regenerate bone and soft tissues, previously was located at the Université catholique de Louvain in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
SiGNa opens new environmentally focused plant
In an effort to develop more environmentally friendly oilfield chemical products based, SiGNa Chemistry opened a new manufacturing plant and technical research center in Rochester, N.Y. devoted to this goal.
The products produced at the new 25,000-square-foot facility are based on a stabilized alkali metal platform and aim to benefit a variety of industries including industrial chemical processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and oil and gas recovery.
The plant already is near capacity, and plans for a second plat are currently underway.
OVEN Industries relocates to accommodate growth
OVEN industries relocated from Mechanicsburg, Penn. To Camp Hill, Penn. in an effort to accommodate the company’s growth and increase manufacturing capabilities.
The move will offer a 60-percent increase in space and increased manufacturing capabilities including electrostatic discharge certification for the manufacturing floor, in-house conformal coating, in-house robotic selective soldering and LED facility lighting.
The company’s new address is 434 Railroad Avenue Camp Hill, PA 17011.
Automation X Engineers to represent SignalFire Wireless Telemetry in Canada
SignalFire Wireless Telemetry contracted manufacturing representative company Automation X Engineers (AXE) to represent the company in Ontario and Quebec, Canada, as SignalFire grows its Canadian footprint.
AXE, known for their expertise in wireless instrumentation and automation will represent SignalFire’s wireless monitoring and control solutions in the country.
Appointments
Alan Snider – Courtesy Laney Directional Drilling
Laney Directional Drilling names new president and COO
Industry veteran Alan Snider was named the new president and chief operating officer of Laney Directional Drilling Company, an integrated engineering, HDD and DP construction service company.
Since 2011, Snider has served as Laney’s vice president of engineering and project management. In his new role, Snider, a licensed professional engineer, will conduct the overall management of the company’s many departments.
OleumTech names new VP of OEM and strategic initiatives
Brent McAdams, former CEO and founder of VC3 Technologies, was named the new vice president of OEM and strategic initiatives for OleumTech. McAdams is tasked with leading the company’s OEM efforts and developing strategic partnerships to further OleumTech’s strategy for delivering a global Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Grundfos names regional managing director of the Americas
Dieter Sauer has been named Grundfos Pumps Corporation’s new regional managing director of the Americas region. Sauer previously was president of Grundfos Water Utility in Aurora, Ill.
Sauer replaces Duncan Cooper, and in his new role, he will oversee all aspects of Grundfos’ North and South American manufacturing.
Ed Sheridan – Courtesy of AccessESP
AccessESP promotes Sheridan to Asia Pacific region manager
Rigless electric submersible pump provider AccessESP promoted Ed Sheridan to Asia Pacific region manager based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sheridan previously served as product line manager for AccessESP in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Australia. In his new role, Sheridan will be responsible for increasing Asia Pacific market share.
Mazzei Injector Company hires new regional sales engineer
Jim White, a 15-year veteran of the waste and wastewater industries, was named Mazzei Injector Company LLC’s new regional sales engineer.
White brings extensive experience in technical engineering, sales, marketing and management, and his expertise lies in the industrial, remediation, and food and beverage markets. He previously worked for DEL Ozone and H20 Engineering among others.
Dirk Bauernfeind – Courtesy of Romaco Group
Dirk Bauernfeind joins Romaco as managing director
Romaco Group hired Dirk Bauernfeind as its new managing director of Romaco Pharmatechnik GmbH, taking over duties previously assumed by Romaco Group CEO Paulo Alexandre, who will now concentrate exclusively on core CEO duties across the group.
Bauernfeind will share company responsibilities with Romaco Group CFO/COO Carsten Strenger, with Bauernfeind focusing on sales, project engineering and product management and Strenger acting as head of finance and operations for Romaco Pharmatechnik and the rest of Romaco Group.
Previously Bauernfeind was head of global product management at Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG.
Blacoh Industries names new production manager
Rock Jensen was appointed Blacoh Industries’ new production manager and lean facilitator. Previously, Jensen was manufacturing manager at the Wilden Pump & Engineering/PSG Grand Terrace facility.
Jensen, who is certified in Lean Master, will help further incorporate Lean Six Sigma processes at the company. Other focuses for Jensen will include expanding the company’s production capacity and maintaining and improving safety standards, among others.
