Acquisitions, Expansions & Partnerships
Blacoh Industries acquires Transient Pressure Monitoring Technology
Blacoh Surge Control, part of the global Blacoh Industries group, has acquired rights to the Transient Pressure Monitoring system developed by Arizona-based Pipetech International. Pipetech International developed the system to address the need for pipeline operators to detect and record transient pressure events occurring in water, wastewater and petroleum pipelines. The system is a strategic addition to Blacoh Surge Control, which provides custom analysis and engineered solutions for surge control using surge vessels and control valves.
Irish company expands to U.S.
Actavo, a leading international engineering solutions company headquartered in Dublin, has acquired a key division of U.S. company, Atlantic Engineering Group Inc. (AES). The deal represents Actavo’s first acquisition in the US. Specializing in design engineering, field services, geographic information systems services and permitting, primarily within the fibre-to-the-home/business sector, AES has operations in Georgia, Texas, Missouri and Colorado. Actavo now has extensive in-house expertise in the U.S., with access to 120 network design engineers.
Altus Capital Partners acquires Nichols Portland from Parker Hannifin
Altus Capital Partners, an investment firm focused on middle market manufacturing companies in the U.S., acquired Nichols Portland, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation. Nichols Portland is a leading designer and manufacturer of precision powder metal fixed and variable displacement gears including gerotor gears and smart pumps for automotive and on-off highway and other industrial markets. Altus Capital along with the management team of Nichols Portland made this investment to participate in the expected growth of smart pump and advanced variable vane gears.
SJE-Rhombus acquires MCC Control Systems
SJE-Rhombus, a global manufacturer of water and wastewater control solutions, acquired MCC Control Systems, a systems integrator and automation solutions provider for municipal water, wastewater and industrial applications. SJE-Rhombus will position MCC Control Systems within PRIMEX, the company’s business dedicated to systems integration and engineered control solutions. According to Dave Thomas, President and CEO of SJE-Rhombus, the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand overall capacity and better serve customers in the Western U.S. with a California location.
Banner Engineering opens facility in Mexico
Banner Engineering opened a new production plant located at the Millennium Industrial Park in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The new facility features 30,000 square feet of production space and 10,000 square feet of office space. It is designed to accommodate future growth with the ability to expand to 60,000 square feet and is projected to generate approximately 150-200 new jobs when fully built out. Banner first began operations in Mexico in 2010 in San Pedro Garza Garcia in Nuevo Leon, and has since established regional sales offices in Mexico City and Queretaro and a distribution center in Monterrey.
A.A. Anderson unveils new corporate identity
Process equipment and services company A.A. Anderson & Co. began operating as Anderson Process in February, and it now has a new logo and website to add to its new identity. According to a press release, the new name reflects the company’s evolution in its core mission and capabilities.
"Anderson Process will continue to offer the widest range of technologies and market expertise in our industry,” said Greg Domino, president and CEO. “We also recognize that customers are seeking process partners that can offer integrated process solutions, custom skids and value-added services that enhance operational performance and plant profitability."
Appointments
Courtesy of Motion Industries
Motion Industries adds corporate account VP
Mark Stoneburner was appointed as the new corporate account vice president – Industry Segments for Motion Industries, a leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Stoneburner will help expand the company’s existing industry segment focus to leverage identified areas of growth opportunity. A graduate of Xavier and Ohio University, he has more than 33 years of experience focused primarily in distribution.
New president for IMI Precision Engineering
Courtesy of IMI Precision Engineering
IMI Precision Engineering appointed Ryan Schroeder as the new president for the America’s Region. Schroeder is responsible for driving IMI Precision Engineering business to the next level and building on the solid foundation of collaboration, quality products and added services. Schroeder has extensive experience in the motion and fluid control technologies industry, working most recently for Parker Hannifin as the General Manager of the Hydraulic Valve Division. Schroeder holds a MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a BA degree in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University.
New director of sales and sales manager for Wilo USA
Wilo USA, a provider of pumps and pump solutions for building services, water management and groundwater, appointed Richard Miller as the new Director of Sales for Residential & Commercial Building Services. Miller joins Wilo with in-depth knowledge of energy savings projects, sales, supplier channels and rep firm management. In his new role he is responsible for planning and implementing sales, marketing and product development programs. Miller brings more than 25 years of experience in the pump and HVAC industries and has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University.
Wilo USA also appointed Tom Trepiccione as new regional sales manager of residential and commercial buildings services for the Southeast U.S. With more than 30 years of experience as a sales manager in the pump, automotive and fire protection industries, Trepiccione joins Wilo with in-depth knowledge of strategic planning, sales support and business development. He is responsible for overseeing the sales operation in his region, which includes servicing the needs of customers, developing sales strategies and setting targets, and collecting customer feedback and market research.
Eliza Corporation appoints senior vice president
Ellen Harrison, MBA, RN, joined Eliza Corporation as senior vice president, market strategy and consulting. Harrison, a veteran in strategic planning and managed care operations, will be responsible for shaping Eliza’s offering to anticipate the diversified communication engagement needs of Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, disease management and new markets.
Awards, Milestones & Celebrations
Courtesy of Blackmer
Hydraulic Institute Standards Award for Blackmer director
Rick Foster, Director of Engineering at Blackmer (part of PSG, a Dover company), was recently presented with a Standards Award from the Hydraulic Institute (HI). Foster received the award in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contributions to the development of ANSI/HI Pump Standards and guidelines published in 2015. Established in 1917, HI is the global authority on pumps and pumping systems. To recognize those who participate in this effort at a high level, HI bestows special Standards Awards to deserving members at both the individual and member-company level.
Rockwell Automation named one of world’s most ethical companies
The Ethisphere Institute has recognized Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, as a 2016 World’s Most Ethical Company. This is the eighth time that Ethisphere, a global leader in advancing the standards of ethical business practices, named Rockwell Automation to the distinguished list which recognizes companies who align principle with action, work tirelessly to make trust part of their corporate DNA, and in doing so, shape future industry standards by introducing tomorrow’s best practices today.
Courtesy of Baldor Electric
Baldor Electric’s Becker recognized for Excellence in Manufacturing
The Manufacturing Institute will present Chelsea Becker with the Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award at an April 21 reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of the manufacturing industry. Chelsea is a Strategic Project Manager for Baldor Electric Company, a member of the ABB Group.
Foundation reaches $1M grant milestone
The legacy of Aqua-Hot Heating Systems’ founder, Harold “Hap” Enander, the Enander Family Foundation Fund, reached a milestone in giving. Since it began in 2012, the charitable organization has given over $1M in grants. Before the fund’s creation, Enander’s lifelong passion for service led him to help others, both in his community and in mission work to Haiti. He and his wife Sue had a deep commitment to improving the lives of young adults through the fostering of their Christian beliefs and practices.
2016 MRS Innovation in Materials Characterization Award
The Materials Research Society’s (MRS) Innovation in Materials Characterization Award honors outstanding advances in materials characterization that notably increase knowledge of the structure, composition, in situ behavior under outside stimulus, electronic behavior or other characterization features of materials. This year the award will honor Niels de Jonge, INM–Leibniz Institute for New Materials; Frances M. Ross, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center; and Chongmin Wang, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory “for seminal contributions to the imaging of specimens in liquids using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revolutionizing the direct observation of materials processes, batteries during operation, and biological structures.”
Climate Leadership Awards recognize Ingersoll Rand
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy recognized 17 organizations from around the country at the Climate Leadership Awards for their leadership and innovation in helping fight climate change. Ingersoll Rand in Davidson, North Carolina, was presented with an Organizational Leadership Award for phasing out HCFCs and other refrigerants. The company has set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 35 percent from 2013 by 2020 for global operations. The company has further committed to reduce the climate impact related to the refrigerants used in the company’s products by 50 percent by 2020 and incorporating lower global warming potential refrigerant alternatives across the product portfolio by 2030.
Crane Pump & Systems test lab facility approved through Hydraulic Institute
Crane Pump & Systems had its pump test laboratory approved through the Hydraulic Institute (HI) Pump Test Lab Approval Program. The HI program helps pump OEMs and other test laboratories improve their current laboratory procedures and policies by working with an experienced third-party auditor to develop and maintain accurate, uniform and repeatable protocols. "Having our pump test laboratory approved through the HI Pump Test Lab Approval Program highlights our commitment to provide customers with market leading products and solutions as we prepare for the implementation of new energy efficiency regulations," said Mark Kowalak, VP of Engineering for Crane Pumps & Systems.
Online part configurator part of AW-Lake website redesign
AW-Lake Company now provides the capability to model and order flow meters online as one of the new features of its redesigned corporate website. An expanded multi-brand portfolio of flow measurement products; application capabilities in the oil/gas, processing, hydraulic and other industries; mobile compatibility; support chat and multi-language translations are among the other new features.
TRICOR Coriolis mass flow meters now CRN certified
AW-Lake Company also completed CRN registration of its TRICOR Coriolis mass flow meters within five provinces of Canada including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. CRN registration certifies that the TRICOR flow meter product line meets high quality standards in operating safely under different working conditions. The registration opens the door for TRICOR flow meter use in oil and gas processes, wastewater, nuclear plants, food and beverage processes and other applications within Canada where customers must specify equipment compliant with Canadian B51 standards.
Research institutions top Reuters Top 25 Global Innovators
Alternative Energies & Atomic Energy Commission, Fraunhofer Society and Japan Science & Technology Agency top the Reuters Top 25 Global Innovators ranking of government research institutions. European institutions dominate the list, accounting for nine out of 25 ranked institutions, more than any other continent. Asia comes in second with eight institutions. North America has seven institutions on the list, but taken on a country-by-country basis, the U.S. dominates, with six organizations ranked. France and Japan each have four, and Germany has three.
