In other news below, see:
-- Watertech, Chemtec and Envirotec China join as PSC 2005
-- ABS repositions itself as strong partner in construction site dewatering
-- Organoclay media aids groundwater treatment of crude oil
-- ECC wins Project of the Year Award for innovative construction management
-- Greinke joins DL Engineering & Controls
-- Research and Markets: Remaining hydro potential found in developing countries
-- Safety Scan Technology assists NASA Outreach Program with Aquacorder development
-- Metals & Arsenic Removal Technology adds McNeely as vice president
-- Pennvest approves $33 million for statewide water projects
-- National society recognizes civil engineers for leadership and management
-- U.S. Army selects GE digital pressure calibrators
-- Aqua Dyne to form partnership in UAE
-- Wataire signs $5.2M deal in Pakistan
-- Koch units earn environmental, health and safety awards in 11 states, 5 countries
-- New R.W. Beck president/CEO announced
-- CVF Technologies' Biorem makes strategic acquisition
Siemens builds up strength in industrial drives with acquisition of Robicon
NUREMBERG, Germany, July 12, 2005 -- Robicon, of New Kensington, Pa., is a leading manufacturer of medium-voltage converters for AC motors and employs 470 staff worldwide. The company with a production plant in New Kensington and subsidiaries in Shanghai, China; High Wycombe, Great Britain; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Edmonton, Canada, achieved sales of $117 million in 2004. The $184 million purchase brings the company out of bankruptcy...
Click here for more.
China's PSC 2005 to host over 500 exhibitors from nearly 100 countries
SHANGHAI, China, July 12, 2005 -- Taking place July 13-16 in Shanghai, PSC 2005 -- the 6th International Exhibition on Fluid, Air & Gas Handling Systems and General Machinery -- comprises six related industry profiles: pumps & systems, valves & piping, compressors & systems, fluid power, control & instrumentation and general machinery. It's held concurrently with Chemtec China 2005, Watertech China 2005 and Envirotec China 2005. Since last held, the exhibition size has grown by 50% since...
Click here for more.
ABS repositions itself as strong partner in construction site dewatering
MALMO, Sweden, July 12, 2005 -- Dewatering is one of the key areas in the new ABS strategy, in which ABS moves its focus from being a pump supplier to offering more of the company's extensive dewatering application know-how. This new focus, announced June 30, means increased availability, expanded product portfolio and a further developed service and rental concept...
Click here for more.
Organoclay media aids groundwater treatment of crude oil
FERNDALE, MI, July 11, 2005 -- A California city was installing a storm drain in an area of very shallow groundwater. Sections of the new pipeline ran adjacent to crude oil pipelines installed over sixty years ago. These pipelines had leaked over the years, though preliminary testing before the project had indicated low levels of hydrocarbons. Engineers turned to Biomin's Oilsorb organoclay media as an efficient way to remove oil in groundwater brought up in the dewatering operations...
Click here for more.
ECC wins Project of the Year Award for innovative construction management
BURLINGAME, CA, July 8, 2005 (PRNewswire) -- The Construction Management Association of America's (CMAA) New England Chapter recently honored ECC for its role in the U.S. Army's Demolition Area 1 project, located at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), with the Project of the Year Award in the Most Innovative Project category. CMAA deemed the project extraordinary because of its complex technical requirements and the necessity of coordinating multiple scientific, engineering, and contracting duties while maintaining high levels of safety.
ECC, under contract to the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and performing the work in support of the Army's Impact Area Groundwater Study Program, undertook rapid-response action to remediate the Demolition Area 1 source area and aid in the restoration of the sole-source drinking-water aquifer. Executing the work under its $100 million Total Environmental Restoration Contract with USACE, ECC cleaned up 24,000 tons of explosive- and perchlorate-contaminated soils using a state-of-the-art low-temperature thermal treatment system. Recycling the soils on site reduced the liability involved in shipping the waste off site and allowed for site restoration using the treated soil.
Under one contract with USACE and two contracts with the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), ECC has been involved in a comprehensive, site-wide environmental-cleanup project at the 22,000-acre military facility since 2000. ECC's duties have included the design, construction, and optimization of systems for in-place soil remediation, including utilization of the innovative thermal treatment process; groundwater sampling, analysis, and treatment; development and implementation of extensive waste management protocols; national heritage and endangered species surveys; and wetlands restoration.
MMR Demolition Area 1 project personnel have been cited for commendable performance by the Army Environmental Center, and the USACE honored the project with the Bunker Hill award, which recognized ECC's outstanding technical capability and teamwork. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently selected the project as a Star Site as part of its Voluntary Protection Program. The honor is given to project sites with enhanced safety and health management systems that have injury and illness rates at or below national averages.
Manjiv Vohra, ECC's President and CEO, said the recognition by CMAA was "well deserved by the project team" and attributed this success to "a sense of teamwork and cooperation with the clients and stakeholders that led to successful completion of the action." He thanked the USACE for its willingness to "lean forward" to resolve any issues that arose.
ECC (www.ecc.net) is based in California and has offices worldwide, including Iraq, Germany, Japan, and Hawaii. ECC, together with its subsidiary ECC International, LLC, provides a complete range of services to support its clients' missions, including environmental remediation, design/build construction, operations and maintenance, and munitions response. ECC serves a variety of government agencies, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, AFCEE, U.S. Navy, and Department of Energy, and is currently serving U.S.- and Iraqi-government agencies in reconstruction efforts throughout Iraq.
Greinke joins DL Engineering & Controls
PHOENIX, JULY 7, 2005 -- DL Engineering & Controls Inc. (DLEC) recently hired Jeff Greinke, P.E., as a project engineer. He is based in Mission Viejo, Calif., and will be responsible for managing engineering activities and representing DLEC's services in the Orange County area.
Greinke brings with him over five years of experience in design of water and wastewater treatment facilities, power system analysis and coordination software, and electrical design and engineering of combined cycle and cogeneration facilities and substations.
A few of his notable projects include work on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California system reliability improvements project, a South Orange County Water Authority equipment evaluation, and Clark County Water Reclamation District header blower replacement. He also led a team of engineers in the development of specifications, detailed design and drawings, sole source agreements and detailed cost estimates for the Clark County Water Reclamation District, Phase 1A, 1B and Phase 2 aeration upgrades.
Greinke received his bachelor of science in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He is a member of the Power Engineer Society.
DL Engineering & Controls Inc. (DLEC) specializes in industrial facility electrical design, construction management services, and integration and support services, with a major focus in the water and wastewater industry. Headquartered in Phoenix, DLEC provides solutions ranging from brief letter reports to multi-million dollar SCADA system design and integration projects for municipalities, private water companies, developers, civil engineering firms and general contractors throughout the U.S. Southwest.
Research and Markets: Remaining hydro potential found in developing countries
DUBLIN, Ireland, July 7, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of "Hydropower Report - Large and Small Hydropower Ed 1 2005" to its offering.
Hydropower is the largest renewable source of electricity. It accounts for 6% of primary energy supply and 17% of electrical generation. Although there are hydro electric projects under construction in about 80 countries most of the remaining hydro potential is found in developing countries particularly in South and Central Asia, Latin America and Africa. This report is a comprehensive study and analysis of the global hydro power market.
This report discusses environmental objections to hydropower and the different impacts on the futures for LHP and SHP. The effects on population, wild life, eco systems, water diversion, landscape, and the potentially critical new problem of methane, which is being researched and could condemn LHP as more environmentally damaging than fossil fuels.
The report covers both large hydropower (LHP) and small hydropower (SHP), mini and micro, and explains the differences between them. It is not simply a question of size but different technologies. It gives an outline of the size of the hydropower industry, separately for large and small. A regional break and analysis of hydropower's distribution country by country is included together with analyses of the future demand for hydropower, both LHP and SHP. The report profiles hydropower in each country and lists of hydro plants in each country, totaling over 2,400.
For more information visit www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c20306.
Safety Scan Technology assists NASA Outreach Program with Aquacorder
RALEIGH, NC, July 7, 2005 -- Safety Scan Technology Inc. (SSTI) a portfolio company of HydroFlo, Inc. announced the assistance of NASA-funded Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) to help streamline their revolutionary technology, the Aquacorder. The challenge is to make the device compact in order to scan and analyze contaminants in water systems.
The technology, Swept Frequency Acoustic Interferometry (SFAI), was originally created by Dr. Dipen N. Sinha with Los Alamos National Laboratories. It utilizes high frequency sound waves to analyze and detect pre-programmed contaminants in water systems through metal, glass, ceramic, and plastic barriers. SFAI has been in use for several years by the federal government as well as for the internal purposes at LANL.
"This technology will allow our customers the ability to analyze their water supply immediately and without opening the container," said Mike Doss, SSTI's chief operating officer. Potential clients for SFAI and the advanced scanner include desalinization plants, beverage bottling processes, and semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturers, which need to verify incoming water purity.
SSTI approached SATOP for assistance in consolidating the electronics associated with SFAI into a smaller, potentially hand-held sized unit, in contrast to the bulkier equipment currently in use. "This new technology is light-years ahead of anything else on the market right now and should revolutionize the way water is controlled and analyzed," said Christophe Gilfriche, SATOP Florida senior program engineer.
Dan Kovach reviewed the technology and once he had a thorough grasp of the concept, he was able to identify circuit configurations that could be implemented, confirm that the device could indeed be miniaturized, and provide suggestions on how to achieve the miniaturization.
"My research concluded that the SFAI device can be miniaturized to the size of a commercially available handheld device using commercially available components," Kovach said.
In addition, Kovach suggested rearranging the components and provided a list of options for consideration, such as a wireless system or separate monitor. He also advised that SSTI avoid components that contain lead due to potential bans on such components in various markets throughout the world. Lastly, Kovach provided suggestions for alternative methods for design and different graphical display options.
"Dan's advice will help us bring our product to the prototype stage faster, and we will be able to move more quickly to make the device smaller," Doss said. Development of a working prototype is under way, and once completed the company will perform extensive field testing.
"We were looking for guidance about our micro circuitry, with the goal of saving a step or two in development down the road," Doss said. "We certainly received that and more from Dan, not to mention the opportunity to be associated with a great program like SATOP."
HydroFlo (www.hydroflo.us or www.hydroflo-inc.com) is a based in Raleigh, N.C. Its mission is to locate, develop, and fund innovative technologies and businesses and utilize these acquisitions to make pure water available to the world by means of disinfection, purification, and removal of contaminants.
The NASA-funded Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (www.spacetechsolutions.com) provides small businesses with free technical assistance through the expertise of the U.S. Space Program, as well as aerospace contractors, NASA field centers, universities and colleges. These organizations join SATOP as Space Alliance Partners and donate time and expertise to help solve technical challenges for small businesses. Platinum level Space Alliance Partners include AJT & Associates, Lockheed Martin, TEAM Specialty Products, and Boeing.
The Technological Research and Development Authority (www.trda.org) is an independent special district of the state of Florida and was established in 1987. TRDA delivers successful and cost-effective initiatives dedicated to enhancing economic development and education throughout the state of Florida and across the nation. Programs operated by the TRDA and the services it provides include: the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program -- technical assistance to small businesses, the Endeavour Academy -- professional development for teachers, the Business Incubation Network -- facilities, resources and mentoring to small businesses, the H1B Visa Training Program -- training to high-tech incumbent American workers, and Energy initiatives -- assistance to businesses developing energy related technologies.
Metals & Arsenic Removal Technology adds McNeely as vice president
RALEIGH, NC, July 7, 2005 -- Metals & Arsenic Removal Technology Inc. (MARTI), a portfolio company of HydroFlo Inc., announced July 5 that Keith McNeely as the latest addition to its team of professionals.
McNeely has been selected for the position of vice president of industrial and municipal sales. In this position, he'll be responsible for expanding and managing the industrial and municipal markets to ensure that sales and distribution of the MARTI product line continues to be negotiated with major buyers around the world.
He brings exceptional experience to the MARTI team. His career includes over 25 years of military and corporate management expertise. Prior to his position at MARTI, McNeely was the district manager for NALCO Chemical Company. His expertise includes municipal sales operations, wastewater treatment, as well as extensive experience with the food processing and paper industries.
"We are delighted to have Mr. McNeely join MARTI management," emphasized George Moore, COO of MARTI. "I am sure his decades of global experience as well as the exceptional management and sales knowledge base that he brings to the corporation will make Mr. McNeely an incredible addition to the MARTI team."
"I am energized by the immense MARTI product line and the exceptional direction in which the company is headed," stated McNeely. "MARTI products are extraordinary, and I am excited to help bring them into the mainstream market."
HydroFlo (www.hydroflo.us) is based in Raleigh, N.C. Its mission is to locate, develop, and fund innovative technologies and businesses and utilize these acquisitions to make pure water available to the world by means of disinfection, purification, and removal of contaminants.
Pennvest approves $33 million for statewide water projects
HARRISBURG, PA, July 6, 2005 (PRNewswire) -- The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority's (Pennvest) Board of Directors today approved $29.5 million in low-interest loans and $3.7 million in grants to fund 17 drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects in 14 counties across the commonwealth. The grants were targeted for three prohibitively expensive projects to bring them within the financial reach of their customers. Funding ranges from $382,000 for installation of a new fiberglass roof over an existing finished water reservoir in Cambria County, to $7,546,000 for construction of a new pumping station, storage tank, new distribution lines and other facilities, for a drinking water system in Northampton County.
The funding for today's projects brings Pennvest's total funding for community water, sewer and stormwater projects to more than $3.8 billion since the program's inception.
The multiple projects' details follow:
Drinking Water
-- Beaver County - Baden Borough: $1,450,000 loan to replace over two miles of drinking water distribution lines in various areas of the Borough where existing one-hundred-year-old lines are prone to frequent breaks and leaks.
-- Cambria County - Northern Cambria Municipal Authority: $382,000 loan to install a new fiberglass roof over the existing finished water reservoir to replace the old roof that collapsed, potentially exposing this drinking water source to contamination.
-- Lehigh County - South Whitehall Township Authority: $481,750 loan to replace a water booster station and 3,100 linear feet of water lines to provide adequate service to an area of the Township where recent groundwater contamination forced the abandonment of private drinking water wells.
-- Northampton County - Easton Suburban Water Authority: $7,546,000 loan to correct water storage and distribution problems by constructing a new pumping station, a storage tank and new distribution lines, as well as other facilities that will serve to increase system storage and pumping capacity.
-- Washington County - Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority: $105,956 loan and $1,869,344 grant to construct almost four miles of transmission and distribution lines to serve the Village of Fairfield area, where almost three fourths of the homes were using drinking water wells that are contaminated with coliform bacteria.
-- Westmoreland County - Westmoreland County Municipal Authority: $2,443,000 loan to replace almost three miles of large diameter water transmission mains in central Westmoreland County where the existing mains are subject to frequent breaks and leaks which disrupt service to private homes and local businesses. In addition, the project includes the construction of new water distribution lines in an area of Kiskiminetas Township in Armstrong County where residential drinking water supplies are contaminated by coliform bacteria.
Wastewater
-- Berks County - Bern Township Municipal Authority: $742,265 loan to purchase wastewater treatment capacity in the Reading Regional Airport Authority sewage treatment plant, which is undergoing an upgrade. This capacity will be used to treat wastewater from homes currently using malfunctioning on-lot septic systems, some of which are contaminating local drinking water wells.
-- Butler County - Butler Area Sewer Authority: $5,930,400 loan to eliminate overflows at the Deshon Pump Station that frequently occur during wet weather by either rehabilitating or replacing over seven miles of collection lines that leak and allow excess water to enter the system.
-- Clearfield County - Chester Hill Borough: $1,209,071 loan and $790,929 grant to construct almost five miles of sewage collection lines, replace 85 manholes and upgrade individual lateral lines in order to eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage into publicly accessible areas that occurs during wet weather events; Clearfield Borough: $2.6 million loan and a $1 million grant to replace almost the entire sewage collection system in the Arnold Avenue and Everett Street areas of the Borough where the sanitary sewage collection system and the stormwater collection system are interconnected, which results in the discharge of untreated sewage into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River during wet weather. The project involves the installation of sanitary sewer mains, the construction of 70 manholes and the connection of 275 homes to the new collection system.
-- Crawford County - Cochranton Borough: $526,500 loan to design a new wastewater treatment plant, collection system and pump stations that will eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and cesspools.
-- Luzerne County - Greater Hazelton CANDO: $459,669 loan to construct a 120,000-gallons-per-day wastewater pump station that will provide sufficient capacity for the planned expansion of the CANDO Corporate Center, which is a major employment center in the Hazelton area; Jackson Township General Municipal Authority: $500,000 loan to replace an old station with a new pump station and associated force main. This will eliminate the discharge of untreated wastewater onto the ground and the backup of basements in local homes that occurs when the existing pump station becomes overloaded during wet weather.
-- Mercer County - Farrell City: $735,000 loan to replace two pumps, 3,160 feet of collection lines and other facilities that will eliminate raw sewage discharges into publicly accessible areas that occur during wet weather.
-- Montgomery County - West Conshohocken Municipal Authority: $604,000 loan to construct about half a mile of new collection lines and force main to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are contaminating groundwater and surface water sources.
-- Schuylkill County - Mahanoy City Sewer Authority: $3 million loan to rehabilitate the existing sewage treatment plant and install interceptor sewers to avoid the likely failure of this system during wet weather events.
Stormwater
-- Berks County - Sinking Spring Borough: $740,500 loan to bore new stormwater culverts under two railway lines to supplement the existing culverts which are not capable of handling stormwater flows, causing the flooding of a warehouse and the fuel loading area of a petroleum tank farm.
For more information, see: www.pennvest.state.pa.us.
National society recognizes civil engineers for leadership and management
RESTON, VA, July 6, 2005 -- In honor of their incredible achievements, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will bestow awards on five distinguished civil engineers on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at the Leadership and Management Luncheon being held during its Annual Civil Engineering Conference in Los Angeles.
The awards being presented include:
-- The 2005 Edmund Friedman Professional Recognition Award -- given in recognition of the advancement of science and professionalism in engineering -- to D. Wayne Klotz, P.E., F.ASCE, president of Klotz Associates Inc., an engineering firm specializing in transportation, traffic, water and sewer, aviation, drainage and land development services. For more information on
Klotz, click here.
-- The 2005 John I. Parcel - Leif J. Sverdrup Civil Engineering Management Award -- given to an engineer of high character and professional integrity who has made a definite contribution in the field of civil engineering management -- to Ralph Peterson, P.E., M.ASCE, chairman, president and CEO of CH2M Hill Companies Ltd., a global engineering and construction company that serves the infrastructure and environmental needs of both public and private clients. For more information on Peterson, click here.
-- The 2005 Civil Government Award -- given to recognize those members of the profession who have rendered meritorious service in elective or appointive government positions--to J. Richard Capka, P.E., M.ASCE, deputy administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. For more information on Capka, click here.
-- The 2005 Government Civil Engineer of the Year Award -- in recognition of a distinguished civil engineer employed in public service for his/her significant contribution to the engineering profession--jointly to Gregory E. DiLoreto, P.E., F.ASCE, general manager of the Tualatin Valley Water District, and Nancy J. Manley, P.E., F.ASCE, chief, Engineering Flight, 778 Civil Engineer Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Ga. For more information on DiLoreto, click here.
For more information on Manley, click here.
Founded in 1852, ASCE represents more than 137,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2002.
U.S. Army selects GE digital pressure calibrators
BILLERICA, MA, June 17, 2005 -- GE Sensing, a leading provider of precision sensing products, systems and services, announced that the U.S. Army has ordered 40 dual range DPI 515 digital pressure calibrators, valued at more than half a million dollars. The DPI 515 pressure calibrator is an upgrade from earlier technology calibrators and supports new military test requirements. The instruments will be used in Army labs throughout the world for calibrating pressure and force sensors and transducers. In addition, some units will be installed in mobile calibration vans deployed to support equipment and troops in conflict areas.
A team of sales and product engineers worked closely with Army personnel to specify the DPI 515 product. In addition, GE placed the DPI 515 on the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule -- customer requirement --as it provides a more efficient method for government purchases and a reduction in acquisition cost.
"This is a great win for GE Sensing. Not only does it demonstrate our position as a preferred provider of sensing solutions, as well as for test and calibration equipment, but it also exemplifies our willingness and ability to go the extra yard to accommodate unique customer requirements," said Jim Henke, product manager for GE Sensing.
GE (www.ge.com) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
GE Infrastructure, based in Wilton, Conn., is a high-technology platform comprised of some of the fastest-growing businesses within GE, representing a set of advanced protection and productivity solutions to some of the most pressing issues that industries face -- pure water, safe facilities, plant automation and detecting changes in the operating environment.
GE Infrastructure, Sensing's precision instruments and systems measure temperature, pressure, liquid level, humidity, gas concentration, and flow rate for applications ranging from environmental, medical and pharmaceutical to automotive, aerospace, chemical and petrochemical. Using technologies such as infrared detection, ultrasonics and MEMS, GE Infrastructure, Sensing helps customers monitor, protect, calibrate, control and validate their critical processes and applications. GE Druck, GE General Eastern, GE Kaye, GE NovaSensor, GE Panametrics, GE Thermometrics and GE Ruska are now under one name: GE Infrastructure Sensing. For more information, visit www.gesensing.com.
Aqua Dyne to form partnership in United Arab Emirates
AURORA, CO, and BRISBANE, Australia, July 6, 2005 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) -- Water desalination specialist Aqua Dyne Inc. has signed a letter of intent with Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zahed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates to sell its JetWater thermal distillation technology to all Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC), which is the world's largest water desalination market.
An Aqua Dyne JetWater system with an output of one megaliter per day is to be purchased and established in the UAE to be used for demonstrating, promoting and marketing the technology, with the working capital to be underwritten through the partnership.
Worleys Parsons, a multinational joint venture heavy engineering group, which is currently supplying services throughout the region to the world's largest petrochemical industry, has agreed to supply Aqua Dyne with 'on the ground' support services throughout the GCC.
Aqua Dyne's JetWater System is based on evaporation, which is nature's way of cleaning water. The system is modular and can purify from half a million litres to more than 10 million liters per day of ultrapure distilled water.
The company is already responding to a number of inquiries from large project development companies based in the region and the Austrade office in Saudi Arabia has introduced additional opportunities that will also assist in promoting the company's JetWater system.
Aqua Dyne looks forward to establishing a long-term market presence in the GCC countries, as a supplier of economically and environmentally sustainable water purification technologies and related services.
Wataire signs exclusive distributor for Pakistan with initial order for $5.2 million
VANCOUVER, BC, Canada, July 6, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Wataire Industries Inc., an international company focusing on developing and delivering technology-based water harvesting systems, has appointed DZD Inc., a company incorporated in the United States, as its exclusive distributor to the country of Pakistan, through their subsidiary, Jinnah Telecom.
The agreement covers a term of three years with a renewal option for a further three years.
The contract will initiate minimum orders to the company (Wataire) of 288 WII 4010 generators per month.
In addition to the monthly requirement, DZD has committed to purchase a minimum of 25 WII 2500 (liter per day) generators and 10 WII 5000 (liter per day) generators per year.
This agreement will reflect product sales for Wataire Industries of approximately $5.2 million annually based on the minimums identified in the contract to maintain exclusivity.
Wataire Industries has received an initial deposit from DZD and, upon receiving confirmation of its letter of credit, will commence shipping product immediately.
"We are also very pleased to announce the results of a microbiological analysis of a sample of water tested on our behalf by CANTEST, a member of the CANAM Group. The sample was submitted on June 28 and the report date of the results was July 4. The test results showed a Heterotrophic Plate Count of 4, which is less than 1% of the World Health Organization's allowable limit of 500 as a guideline to determine if water is safe to drink," said Phil Frasor, Wataire president and CEO.
Koch units earn environmental, health and safety awards in 11 states, 5 countries
WICHITA, KS, July 5, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Koch Industries Inc. has released its 2005 Environmental, Health and Safety Progress Report, which outlines how Koch companies strive to fulfill a strong commitment to workplace safety, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.
In addition to showcasing the safety and environmental recognition received by Koch companies in 11 U.S. states and five other countries, the recently released report includes information on industry-leading performance achieved by these companies.
"Koch companies have more than doubled their employment and significantly expanded their business interests since 2003," said Hannah Valmont, Koch Industries' director of environment, health and safety. "During this time of rapid change and global growth, Koch companies have worked to integrate a culture of environmental, health and safety excellence into their operations, while striving to continuously improve performance at new and old sites. Our employees have worked hard to meet the challenge of becoming their communities' operator of choice."
Other report highlights concerning Koch companies include the following:
-- Koch subsidiary Flint Hills Resources reducing refinery flare time by 88% since 1997;
-- Three new facilities earning Voluntary Protection Program Star Status from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration; one site earned re-certification;
-- Environmental recognition from organizations such as the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, Natural Resources Canada Office of Energy Efficiency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wildlife Habitat Council, the Georgia Water and Pollution Control Association and the Minnesota Environmental Initiative, among others;
-- Initiation of a cooperative agreement with EPA to develop a policy to reduce emissions caused by periods of startup, shutdown and malfunction at refineries; and
-- Results of an extensive, volunteer land- and water-based approach to cleaning up the Anacostia and Potomac rivers near Washington, D.C., that was founded by Koch Industries, Inc.
The report, which can be downloaded or ordered online at www.kochehs.com, also illustrates employees' commitment to implementing Koch companies' policies and principles into daily operations. Koch companies concentrate on achieving what they call 10,000% compliance, which is 100% compliance, 100% of the time.
Koch Industries, Inc., based in Wichita, Kan., owns a diverse group of companies engaged in trading, investment and operations. These companies have a presence in about 50 countries and employ nearly 30,000 people in core industries such as trading, petroleum, chemicals, energy, fibers and intermediates, minerals, fertilizers, pulp and paper, chemical technology equipment, ranching, securities and finance, as well as in other ventures and investments. More information is available at www.kochind.com.
New R.W. Beck president/CEO announced
BOSTON, July 5, 2005 (PRNewswire) -- The Board of Directors for management consulting and engineering firm R.W. Beck, Inc. has selected Russell J. Stepp as the new president and CEO.
A senior employee of R.W. Beck in the Seattle office, Stepp previously was the National Director of the Water/Waste Resources practice before being promoted by the Board. His term is scheduled to begin Nov. 1, when current President/CEO Nicholas P. Guarriello steps down from the position. Guarriello plans to continue in a senior consultant role prior to retirement tentatively planned for the end of 2006.
"The Board was pleased that Russ Stepp would agree to step into the key leadership role of President/CEO," says Chairman of the Board Jeffrey F. Clunie, who is based in Boston. "We feel that his expertise will benefit the company as it embarks on a new strategic plan, focused on growth."
"I look forward to fulfilling the Board's vision for R.W. Beck in the coming years," Stepp says. "I am confident that our firm will prosper as we continue to excel at providing premium services to our existing energy, water and solid waste clients while also welcoming new clients and opportunities."
Stepp has more than 30 years of experience in the field of water services. While with R.W. Beck, he has grown the Water/Waste Services area significantly.
His background includes all aspects of program management, project management, design-build and project execution, primarily for water resources projects. He has also been involved in major project contract negotiations, and has successfully led dispute resolution teams in multiple-party claims.
He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a registered professional engineer.
Founded more than 60 years ago, R.W. Beck (www.rwbeck.com) is a technically based management consulting and engineering firm providing services to both public and private sectors in the areas of energy and water/waste resources.
CVF Technologies' Biorem makes strategic acquisition
WILLIAMSVILLE, NY, July 5, 2005 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) -- CVF Technologies Corp.'s holding, Biorem Inc., on July 1, 2005 completed the acquisition of the assets of Biocube LLC of Victor, N.Y., through a new, wholly owned, U.S. subsidiary that will continue operations from there under the name Biorem Environmental Inc.
CVF Technologies currently owns 32% of Biorem and CVF's shareholdings in Biorem are currently valued at approximately CDN $9.6 million [US$7.91 million]. This equates to approximately $0.56 per CVF common share.
Biocube manufactures a unique line of modular biofilters for odor control in the small to intermediate airflow range and has more than 300 systems installed worldwide. Biocube's sales in fiscal 2004 were $2.4 million and the purchase price was approximately one times annual sales, settled in cash. All seven full time Biocube employees have been offered positions at Biorem Environmental Inc. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Biorem fiscal 2005 earnings.
A private placement to Herbert Ego, former president and CEO of Biocube, of approximately 110,000 common shares of Biorem Inc. at an aggregate subscription price of CDN $346,000 (CDN $3.15 per share) was completed in accordance with regulatory approval simultaneously with the closing of the transaction. The shares are subject to a hold period pursuant to Canadian securities laws that expires on November 7, 2005 and a hold period pursuant to US securities laws. No bonus, commission or finder's fee was paid in connection with the private placement.
"This acquisition marks another significant step in our goal of consolidating the biofilter market, bringing together biological odor control companies that are the best in their respective segments." commented Brian Herner, President and CEO of BIOREM. "Combined with new product developments and improved application technology, we are committed to providing our customers the best product selection and performance capability available."
Biocube's specialized product line includes a patented modular resin tray biofilter that is ideal for treating odors from sewage pumping stations and small sewage treatment plants. There are hundreds of thousands of these stations in North America and many have serious odor emission problems. Biocube offers the most competitive price point for the low air flow market. The size and price make it an excellent product for entry into foreign markets. Successful installations have already been completed in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, South Africa and Peru.
"In addition to Biocube's broad customer base, we benefit from the sales infrastructure and the addition of an experienced team of professionals. Ego, who will join us as a senior manager of Biorem, will play an integral role in the management of our combined business development and the rapid expansion of our international business. This acquisition will also give Biorem a U.S. business base to support our strong market position there." Herner continued.
Ego commented that, "It is timely for us to come together with Biorem, join resources and expand our position in this young and rapidly growing market. Biorem and Biocube have many complimentary strengths in product, market application and personnel. Together we have a real opportunity to leverage these strengths and emerge as the industry leader in biological odor control systems."
Biorem (www.biorem.biz) manufactures BiosorbensTM a high-efficiency permanent biofilter media and is a leading supplier of biofilters for air pollution control in municipal and industrial applications including the BASYSTM modular and BIOFILTAIRTM field erected systems. With over 100 installed systems and over a decade of experience, the Corporation's groundbreaking biofilters are the technology of choice for wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations across North America.
CVF Technologies Corp. (www.cvfcorp.com) is based in Williamsville, N.Y. CVF is a technology development company, whose principal business is sourcing, funding and managing emerging pre-public technology companies with significant market potential. Founded in 1989, CVF's holdings include four companies involved primarily in environmental products/services.
***
In earlier newsbriefs, see:
-- "WaterBriefs: CarteGraph software adds four new clients" -- Also in this report (July 11, 2005): Purifics wins 1,4-Dioxane groundwater contract; Eaton acquires industrial filtration unit from Hayward Industries; Severn Trent Services chosen for arsenic removal at large Calif. facility; Watts Water to buy Savard water connectors unit, Microflex; Calif. DWR, DPR schedule Hetch Hetchy study workshop; Australian town in full production with ArcFM; WK Dickson appoints new water, wastewater director; York Water acquires Spring Grove water systems...
###
