WaterBriefs: Dow celebrates new FilmTec plant, unveils Dow Water Solutions global business unit
In other news below:
-- Parsons, Barnard Construction picked to manage Fla. reservoir construction
-- Neptune named supplier for Raleigh, N.C., city water system
-- GL&V awarded mining industry contracts over $34 million in recent weeks
-- Suez Environment wins 30-year, full-service water contract for Changshu, China
-- H2O Innovation acquires assets of Membrane Systems Corp.
-- CVF Technologies Corp. unit BIOREM receives $500,000 order for Marysville, OH
-- Severn Trent Services provides arsenic removal systems for Arizona American Water
-- Siemens expands water business with acquisition of Chinese CNC Water Technology
-- Baker unit selected for six mitigation projects worth $10.3 million in North Carolina
-- Clockwork Home Services acquires Home Services franchise in Nashville
-- Spheric Technologies wins Penn State license for metal processing technology
-- PepsiCo to receive 2006 Keep America Beautiful Vision for America Award
-- Top EPA official named new vice president of research at Colorado State University
-- China Evergreen announces completion of Beijing water treatment project
-- GasTran Systems appoints Spartan Environmental ozone injection system distributor
-- Cohesant Technologies acquires Triton Insitutech
-- Flowserve opens Quick Response Center in the Netherlands
-- Aqua America wastewater subsidiary acquires Foster Septic
-- ASHRAE unveils redesigned website
-- ICC, IAPMO end discussions on proposed joint codes
-- Teledyne completes acquisitions in CollaborX, Ocean Design
• FilmTec Corp. announces successful startup of Minn. manufacturing facility -- Plant poised to meet growing membrane demand -- MIDLAND, MI, Sept. 7, 2006 -- FilmTec Corp., a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, announced today the successful start-up of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Edina, MN. This expansion provides increased capacity and improved product performance of FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis (RO) membranes to meet growing demand.
"We continue to see rising demand from our global RO customers, particularly in the industrial and municipal segments," said Karen Dobson, global market manager, FILMTEC membranes. "We are proud of our on-track completion of this project, and our new capabilities in terms of capacity, product quality, and process technologies that allow us to support this growth more efficiently."
The expansion has progressed on track since construction began in 2004, with partial production underway since early 2006. Minnesota was chosen for the expansion after a rigorous process that looked at various locations around the world.
"The Minneapolis area provides an excellent business environment and strong workforce that enables us to successfully compete in this global economy," said Ian Barbour, Dow Water Solutions general manager and FilmTec Corporation chief executive officer.
The expanded facility operates with leading-edge process and manufacturing technology and provides more than double the production capacity of FilmTec's existing plant. It contains additional membrane lines and new fabrication cells, adding a higher degree of automation to FilmTec's already automated production capabilities.
"Our level of automation at the plant is second to none, and along with process innovations and integrated quality systems, we are able to offer a more consistent, higher performing product," explained Dobson.
Investment in the FilmTec facility is consistent with the company's commitment to improving the cost performance of membrane technology, while enhancing value for the customer.
"As the water treatment market continues to grow, we will continue to invest in our target segments and utilize our expertise in component manufacturing and application to reduce system life-cycle costs and improve functionality in purifying water," said Dobson.
Established in Minnetonka in 1977, FilmTec Corp. was purchased by Dow Chemical in 1985 and is the leading producer of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane elements for industrial, municipal, commercial and home drinking water treatment and purification and other specialty applications. FilmTec employs approximately 450 people in the Minneapolis area.
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide.
Also see:
-- "Dow invests for growth in water industry; unveils Dow Water Solutions"
-- "Dow's calcium chloride business enters centennial at top of its game"
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• Parsons, Barnard Construction picked to manage Fla. reservoir construction -- PASADENA, CA, Sept. 7, 2006 -- Parsons, joint-ventured with Barnard Construction Company, Inc., has been awarded a contract by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to construct a massive reservoir in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The reservoir, located near West Palm Beach, Florida, will provide significant additional water storage and environmental benefits in the southern region of the EAA. This $480 million project, which is a key element of the $10.4 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program and a cornerstone of the SFWMD Acceler8 Program, will consist of an aboveground 190,000-acre-foot reservoir with approximately 20 miles of levees/embankment, seepage canals, a new pump station, and a new four-lane bridge on US Highway 27. Parsons will be responsible for the pump station, hydraulic structures, bridge, and roadwork...
Also see: "Gov. Bush breaks ground on massive reservoir to restore America's Everglades"
• Neptune named supplier for Raleigh, N.C., city water system -- TALLASSEE, AL, Sept. 7, 2006 -- The city of Raleigh, NC, has chosen Neptune Technology Group Inc. through a request for proposal process as its supplier of water meters and AMR systems. Per the agreement, Neptune's ARB® Utility Management Systems™ will be utilized to automate 140,000 water meters in the city's service area. For this project, Neptune meters will be equipped with ProRead absolute encoder registers and R900® radio frequency (RF) meter interface units (MIUs) for pit applications. Raleigh will utilize Neptune's mobile data collectors for monthly meter reading and the CE-based handheld readers and RF receivers for on-site data collection. Utility Partners of America (UPA) has been awarded the contract by the City to provide the installation services...
Also see: "Neptune named supplier for Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority"
• GL&V awarded large-scale contracts over $34 million for mining industry in past few weeks -- MONTREAL, Canada, Sept. 7, 2006 -- Groupe LaPerriere & Verreault Inc. (GL&V) is pleased to announce that its Process Group (Dorr-Oliver Eimco), which continues to benefit from very strong activity in the global mining industry, was awarded several major ore processing equipment contracts totalling more than CDN$34 million [US$30.6 million] over the past few weeks. Most of these orders will be completed before the end of the current fiscal year and the rest, in the first quarter of the next fiscal year. The largest contract, worth close to CDN$6 million, relates to supply of two thickeners and 26 flotation cells to an ore producer in Zambia. Dorr-Oliver Eimco also landed two orders for CDN$10.4 million for filters and thickeners intended for Brazilian ore producers, three contracts totalling CDN$7.2 million in China and two others totalling CDN$5.9 million in Australia. The remaining contracts are from various ore producers in Mexico, Chile, Venezuela and South Africa...
• Suez Environment named preferred bidder on 30-year, full-service water contract for Changshu, China -- PARIS, Sept. 7, 2006 -- Suez Environment was named preferred bidder for a concession-type contract to manage the water services for the city of Changshu, located in the delta of the Yangtze River under the administration of Suzhou, near Shanghai, China. Granted after an international call for tenders, the 30-year full services contract represents first year turnover of EUR 30 million [US$38.17 million]. The cumulated turnover of the contract over its entire term will be over EUR 1 billion (exclusive of average 10% forecast yearly growth in water demand). The contract is scheduled to start at the end of 2006. For the purposes of this major project, Suez Environment joined with its historical partner in China, New World through their joint venture Sino-French Holding in buying up 49% of the shares in the Changshu Water Supply Company Limited, the other 51% remaining the property of the city. A new joint venture will be set up to manage the contract, headed by Suez Environment. It will be in charge of drinking water production and distribution (involving 3 plants with a total capacity of 675,000 m3/day, and 2,500 km of piping networks) as well as the management of the customer service for a population of 1.5 million...
Also see:
-- "Suez - Strong advance in first-half results"
-- "Expo Agua Saragoza 2008 awards a $381.64 million contract to Suez Group"
• H2O Innovation (2000) Inc. announces execution of asset purchase agreement with Membrane Systems Corp. -- QUEBEC CITY, Canada, Sept. 7, 2006 -- H2O Innovation (2000) Inc. announces the execution yesterday of an arm's length asset purchase agreement between Membrane Systems Inc., a new wholly owned subsidiary of H2O incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware, and Membrane Systems Corp. (MSC), pertaining to acquisition of all substantially assets held by MSC for an amount of US$2,875,000, payable on closing. This transaction was previously announced by H2O on May 10. TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has conditionally approved the transaction, subject to fulfilling customary conditions. Closing is scheduled to take place on or around Sept. 20...
• CVF Technologies Corp. unit BIOREM receives $500,000 order for Marysville, OH -- WILLIAMSVILLE, NY, Sept. 7, 2006 -- CVF Technologies
Corp. holding BIOREM announced that it has received a purchase order valued at CDN$620,000 [US$558,245] for the supply of its advanced odor control BIOFILTAIR™ system. The system is to be installed at the wastewater treatment facility for the city of Marysville, OH. The new system will treat foul air collected from the plant headworks and biosolids dewatering facilities. Work on the project is to begin immediately with completion forecasted for the summer of 2007...
• Severn Trent Services provides arsenic removal technology for Arizona American Water -- Arsenic removal system has been commercially proven effective for more than a decade -- FORT WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 6. 2006 -- The SORB 33® arsenic removal technology and Bayoxide® arsenic removal media from Severn Trent Services have been selected for use by Arizona American Water Company at six water treatment facilities in the Phoenix area. The facilities, which have flow rates of 500 to 3,000 gallons per minute, are treating water in which total arsenic ranged from 16 to 42 parts per billion (ppb). The new treatment systems enable Arizona American Water to reduce arsenic levels below the EPA arsenic standard for drinking water of 10 ppb...
• Siemens expands water business with acquisition of Chinese CNC Water Technology -- WARRENDALE, PA, Sept. 6, 2006 -- Siemens expands its solution business for water treatment in China with the acquisition of CNC Water Technology Inc., Beijing, a successful Chinese system integrator. With 120 employees, including 70 engineers, the company is exclusively active in the water sector and primarily in industrial filtration applications. Established in 2002 to introduce membrane filtration treatment process to the seawater desalination and wastewater treatment market in China, CNC relied on its technical competencies and particularly strong experiences in UF and RO membrane fabrication to quickly become a market leader. Since 2002, it has successfully executed some of the largest projects in China for seawater desalination, industrial wastewater and municipal water treatment, covering a wide industry range, including petrochemicals, refining, power generation, and steel production. It was 100% owned by CNC (HK) Water Technology Ltd., of Hong Kong, of which Siemens has aquired the majority interest with 70% ownership. An option has been agreed upon the parties granting Siemens the right to acquire the remaining 30 per cent of the shares after three years...
• Baker unit selected for six mitigation projects in North Carolina -- CARY, NC, Sept. 6, 2006 -- Buck Engineering, the recently acquired Engineering unit of Michael Baker Corp., has been selected by the North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program (NCEEP) for six stream mitigation projects throughout North Carolina. The projects include Pinch Gut Creek, Duke Swamp, Blockhouse Creek, Puzzle Creek, Logan Creek, and Big Cedar Creek. Each project is for seven years, with a total contract value over that period of $10.3 million. Under the contract, Buck will provide a variety of services, including surveying, natural channel design, wetland design, construction oversight and monitoring...
• Clockwork Home Services acquires Home Services franchise in Nashville -- Company also names Tab Hunter as vice president of franchise sales -- NASHVILLE, TN, & SARASOTA, FL, Sept. 6, 2006 -- Clockwork Home Services Inc. announced its acquisition of Nashville-based Tab Hunter's One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating franchise and Tab Hunter's Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise. For 2005, these two franchises collectively generated total revenue of approximately $5 million. Effective immediately, they will now become wholly owned and operated units of Clockwork...
• Spheric Technologies awarded exclusive U.S. license for energy-saving microwave metal processing technology by Penn State Research Foundation -- Targeting $5 billion U.S. powdered metal parts fabricating industry -- PHOENIX, AZ, Sept. 6, 2006 -- Spheric Technologies Inc., marketer of patented microwave metal processing systems and producer of advanced ceramic powders and metal oxides, announced it has contracted with the Penn State Research Foundation, the intellectual property arm of Pennsylvania State University, to become the exclusive U.S. licensee for a group of patents covering the use of microwave technology to sinter powdered metal components and other materials for industrial use. Microwave sintering (the process of binding powders at high temperature, without melting) reduces energy use up to 80%, and improves throughput time by 90% or more, compared to convention sintering. "We expect to partner with other corporations and with the Penn State Microwave Processing and Engineering Center, directed by Dr. Dinesh Agrawal, to develop applications for a wide range of industries, including wastewater treatment, mining and basic materials production," said Michael Kirksey, Spheric Technologies executive vice president...
• PepsiCo to receive 2006 Keep America Beautiful Vision for America Award -- National nonprofit community improvement organization recognizes major food and beverage company for environmental leadership -- STAMFORD, CT, Sept. 6, 2006 -- Keep America Beautiful Inc., the nation's largest nonprofit community improvement organization, has chosen PepsiCo Inc. as its 2006 Vision for America Award honoree. Keep America Beautiful recognizes and honors PepsiCo for the corporation's leadership role in preserving the environment through many diverse conservation and educational efforts. PepsiCo chairman and CEO Steven Reinemund will accept the 21st annual Vision for America Award on behalf of PepsiCo and its subsidiaries and bottling partners on Oct.17 at a dinner at New York City's Grand Hyatt. Its sustainability vision to make "Tomorrow Better than Today" includes all aspects of its operations by encouraging conservation, recycling and energy use programs that promote clean air and water, and reduce landfill waste...
• Top EPA official named new vice president of research at Colorado State University FORT COLLINS, CO, Sept. 6, 2006 -- Bill Farland, the highest ranking career scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency, will bring his decades of interdisciplinary research leadership experience to Colorado State this fall as the new vice president for research. Farland is deputy assistant administrator for science in the EPA's Office of Research and Development. He also directs the EPA's Office of the Science Advisor, which serves as the authority on integrating sound science in regulatory decisions. He served as Acting Agency Science Advisor throughout 2005. Farland begins his new post on Oct. 16. He will report to Tony Frank, provost and senior vice president...
• China Evergreen announces completion of water treatment project -- GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2006 -- China Evergreen Environmental Corp announced completion of a 20,000 tonne/day municipal wastewater treatment facility in Beijing, the capital city of the People's Republic of China. The project, contracted on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis was completed, within cost parameters, at a total investment of $2.5 million and will generate average revenue of about $665,000 per annum over the total project life of 25 years. Within the next few years, it's anticipated the facility will expand to treat 40,000 tonne/day...
• GasTran Systems appoints Spartan Environmental Technologies as distributor of its ozone injection system -- MENTOR, OH, Sept. 5, 2006 -- Spartan Environmental Technologies, a distributor and manufacturer of chemical oxidation and disinfection equipment, has been appointed as a distributor of GasTran Systems' proprietary ozone injection system for wastewater treatment. Spartan's product line includes a full range of ozone generators, odor control systems and a proprietary electrolytic system for the removal of organics from water. These systems treat air and water from municipal, commercial and industrial facilities...
• Cohesant Technologies acquires Triton Insitutech -- INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 5, 2006 -- Cohesant Technologies Inc. has completed the purchase of the operations and assets of Triton Insitutech LLC. The transaction represents another significant step in the execution of Cohesant's long-term plan to be a global leader providing technologies for the protection and renewal of infrastructure. Triton, currently based in Orlando, FL, is one of the leading providers of services for the protection and renewal of medium and large diameter water pipes using epoxy and other polymer linings. The Triton SpinCast System is used to rehabilitate aging water, wastewater and other pipelines, including public and private water mains. Currently, the CuraFlo Engineered Flow Lining System and the Raven Engineered System form the technology core of the operations of CIPAR Inc., the Company's infrastructure rehabilitation subsidiary. Like the CuraFlo System and the Raven System, the proprietary Triton System combines specially designed equipment with proven processes for the cleaning, preparation and application of polymer linings to damaged pipes...
• Flowserve opens Quick Response Center in the Netherlands -- Moerdijk facility offers seal repair, manufacturing and maintenance services -- DALLAS, Sept. 5, 2006 -- Flowserve Corp., a global provider of fluid motion and control products and services, announces the opening of its Quick Response Center (QRC) in Moerdijk, The Netherlands. The Moerdijk QRC is a fully equipped, regional sales and service center that provides complete sealing solutions and superior, localized customer support. The new center offers mechanical seal manufacturing, repair, failure analysis, and inventory backup for quick response to Flowserve customers in the Netherlands and throughout northern Europe. The facility is the latest in the growing Flowserve network of QRCs located in strategic regions around the world to provide unmatched local service and support to customers from a single, global source. Flowserve has opened or upgraded 16 QRCs worldwide in the past 18 months...
• Aqua America wastewater subsidiary keeps growing -- BRYN MAWR, PA, Sept. 5, 2006 -- Aqua America Inc. announced Sept. 1 that its non-regulated subsidiary, Aqua Wastewater Management Inc., has acquired the assets of Foster Septic Services of Kennett Square, PA, further expanding the company's wastewater services and septage hauling business in southeastern Pennsylvania. The transaction -- valued at approximately $1 million -- is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings. Foster Septic Services provides approximately 5,000 residential and commercial customers with septage and commercial wastewater hauling services. The acquired company's capabilities also include septic tank system design and installation, inspection, certification and repair services, which represent new lines of business for Aqua. The announcement follows Aqua's purchase in July of Perna Wastewater Management of Souderton, PA. This $5.6 million transaction expanded the company's service territory across eastern Pennsylvania and into portions of New Jersey from a base of three previous acquisitions. The company launched its non-regulated wastewater hauling and services venture in April 2005...
• ASHRAE unveils redesigned website -- New Internet portal features improved technology and navigation -- ATLANTA, Sept. 5, 2006 -- With a focus on ease of navigation and new technology, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has unveiled its redesigned website, www.ASHRAE.org. An improved website is a corner stone of fulfilling the Society's new Strategic Plan, which calls for sustainability leadership, world-class educational programs, a raised public profile and global access to technical information. A refined Google-powered search engine has been added, and site visitors will benefit from the site's 100% uptime and increased speed. The new, simpler design incorporates a technology that will integrate with the new member database that goes live this fall, allowing members to easily access subscription management tools for eLists and newsletters, and account history for events, purchases and dues...
Also see:
-- "ASHRAE offers educational program at AHR Expo-Mexico"
-- "ASHRAE Student Design Competition: Winning projects focus on environmental impact, comfort, health"
• ICC, IAPMO end discussions on proposed joint codes -- FALLS CHURCH, VA, Sept. 5, 2006 -- The International Code Council (ICC) announced today that negotiations have ended with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) on a joint venture to develop a single plumbing code and single mechanical code. "We made it clear to IAPMO from the beginning the code development process had the potential to be a real stumbling block," said ICC Board President Henry Green. A successful joint venture would have strengthened both organizations by bringing the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code into the comprehensive, coordinated family of codes offered by ICC, according to Green...
Also see:
-- "New ICC certification for fire service professionals"
-- "International Code Council assists Pakistan"
• Teledyne completes acquisitions of CollaborX and majority stake in Ocean Design Inc. -- LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2006 -- Teledyne Technologies Inc. announced Aug. 17 that it completed the acquisitions of CollaborX Inc. for $17.5 million and the majority interest in Ocean Design, Inc. for about $30 million. CollaborX, based in Colorado Springs, CO, provides government engineering services primarily to the U.S. Air Force and select joint military commands, such as the Missile Defense Agency, the United States Joint Forces Command and the United States Northern Command. It will operate under the name Teledyne Brown CollaborX Inc. Ocean Design, of Daytona Beach, FL, is a leading manufacturer of subsea, wet-mateable electrical and fiber-optic interconnect systems used in offshore oil and gas production, oceanographic research, and military applications...
Also see:
-- "Teledyne Brown provides anti-terrorism training for over 1 million"
-- "Teledyne enters agreement to acquire CollaborX Inc."
-- "Teledyne to acquire majority stake in Ocean Design Inc."
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