WaterBriefs: Millipore recognized for social, environmental leadership

Feb. 23, 2006
Also in this report: MF membrane market to top $1.2B; Agilent, Labtronics explore advanced integration solution; Godwin Pumps opens second NJ rental location; PureTech forms advisory board; More Membrana sales to Malaysian chip fab; $9M bottling plant bought; Ozone firm tests dairy wastewater; Ofwat consults on sustainable development duty; Idaho college students analyze phosphorus removal system; 'Detection library' for chemical warfare agents unveiled; Canadian water workers on strike...

In other news below:
-- Microfiltration market to top $1.2 billion by 2010
-- Agilent, Labtronics to partner to provide advanced integration solution for Cerity ECM
-- Godwin Pumps opens second New Jersey rental location
-- PureTech Systems forms advisory board
-- Membrana sends more membrane contactors to Malaysian semiconductor fab
-- Universal Food and Beverage acquires aseptic bottling plant for $9M
-- Autoliv Promontory facility receives Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing
-- MFC acquires Midwest Hydraline
-- ASCE announce outstanding achievement award nominees
-- Ozone technology firm receives favorable test results on dairy wastewater
-- New Zealand dairy farmers reject irrigation criticism
-- Ofwat consults on new sustainable development duty
-- International Aid hires Bodenner to head worldwide clean water program
-- Coalition urge California to list Teflon chemical as a carcinogen
-- ACWA voices concerns with water bond package
-- University of Idaho students analyze prototype phosphorus removal system
-- Witherspoon launches tender offer for Schuff International
-- Zenith International issues first bottled water report on Latin America
-- Electronic Sensor Technology unveils 'detection library' for chemical warfare agents
-- Guelph municipal, library workers on strike to protect public services

With key environmental awards, Millipore recognized for corporate, social responsibility leadership -- Wins key environmental awards -- BILLERICA, MA, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Millipore Corp., a leading provider of products and services that improve productivity in the laboratory and in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, today announced it has been added to KLD's Domini 400 Social Index. The index consists of 400 U.S. companies and is used by professional investors to identify organizations that exhibit positive social and environmental records. Also in 2005, Millipore was named one of America's Top 100 Corporate Citizens by Business Ethics Magazine in 2005, having invested $21 million as grants through its Millipore Foundation since 1985 in local communities and programs that benefit underprivileged children, the elderly, local hospitals, and health care agencies. Additionally, the company has been recognized for its environmental conservation efforts in receiving a 2005 Environmental Merit Award for its water conservation program from the Environmental Protection Agency. And it was recently awarded an "Excellence in Pollution Prevention Award" by the state of New Hampshire and received the governor's award for pollution prevention three times since 1999...
Also see: "Millipore strengthens senior leadership with key new additions"

Microfiltration market to top $1.2 billion by 2010 -- NORWALK, CT, Feb. 22, 2006 -- According to "The Microfiltration Membrane Market" (RC-046N), a newly updated technical market research report from BCC Research, the global market for microfiltration (MF) membranes used in liquid separations is estimated at $792 million in 2005, rising at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 9.4% through the forecast period, to more than $1.2 billion. Factors driving market growth include federal regulations, industry standards, consumer demand, and the need to replace aging and/or outdated existing equipment. The most important driver is governmental regulation imposed by agencies such as the EPA and the FDA, as well as purity standards required by various industries...

Agilent, Labtronics to partner to provide advanced integration solution for Cerity ECM -- Two companies work together to develop an integration solution that connects Cerity Enterprise Content Manager (ECM) to any LIMS -- PALO ALTO, CA, & GUELPH, ON, Canada, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Agilent Technologies Inc., the world's premier measurement company and Labtronics Inc., a world leader in providing innovative laboratory data integration and management solutions, today announced the release of LimsLinkECM, an advanced integration solution for Agilent's Cerity ECM. The off-the-shelf integration will enable Cerity ECM customers to easily connect to any LIMS. This allows users to share data between their Cerity ECM system and their LIMS where previously there had been no ability for the systems to communicate. For example, when used in conjunction with the Agilent ChemLMS LIMS, LimsLinkECM can send document references to the LIMS for later one-click access. This portal functionality would allow the LIMS user to have direct access to sample relevant information in the ECM without having to search for it...

Godwin Pumps opens second New Jersey rental location -- EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Bridgeport-NJ based Godwin Pumps, worldwide manufacturer of portable contractors pumps, recently opened a rental facility at 6 Connerty Court in East Brunswick, NJ. On two acres, the 13,000 sq. ft. facility includes an equipment yard, service shop, parts center, and offices for nearly 20 employees serving New York Metro/Northern New Jersey. The company provides rental, sales and service of automatic self-priming Dri-Prime¿¥ pumps for any type and size pumping application...

PureTech Systems forms advisory board -- PHOENIX, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Comprising experts in aviation, seaports, military, engineering, computer/video technology and business, the board is designed to provide PureTech leaders strategic business and market insights to help the company realize it's vision of becoming the market leader in intelligent wide-area surveillance and perimeter protection systems. The group's first meeting took place Feb. 17 in Phoenix...

Membrane contactors installed in Malaysian semiconductor fab for oxygen removal -- CHARLOTTE, NC, Feb. 22, 2006 -- The 115 m3/hr Membrana system utilizes Liqui-Cel® 10 x 28 high purity units to provide a dissolved oxygen outlet of less than 100 ppb. The system will operate in combo mode using nitrogen and vacuum. The semiconductor plant will use the membrane contactors to manufacture Logic chips used in automobiles and industrial power applications. Oxygen in water used to manufacture Semiconductor wafers negatively impacts production yields...
Also see: "Membrana announces a new agent in China for Liqui-Cel membrane contactors"

Universal Food and Beverage acquires aseptic bottling plant -- ST. CHARLES, IL, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Universal Food and Beverage Company, announced today that it purchased a fully operational aseptic bottling, packaging, and distribution facility located in Savannah, GA, from California Natural Products (CNP) at a purchase price of $9 million. The transaction closed on Feb. 17. The Savannah production facility is approximately 125,000 square feet, is located on a 14 acre site and has 7 aseptic lines and 4 processing systems. The assets acquired also include intellectual property, contract rights, business records, inventory, and other personal property items...

Autoliv Promontory facility receives Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing -- STOCKHOLM, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Autoliv Inc., a worldwide leader in automotive safety, today announced that its Promontory Facility in Utah has received the 2006 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. Dubbed the "Nobel Prize of Manufacturing" by Business Week magazine, the award, administered by Utah State University's College of Business, promotes world-class manufacturing and recognizes companies that achieve superior customer satisfaction and business results. This facility becomes the fifth of Autoliv's six facilities in Utah to receive this prize. Among environmental achievements, it has created a wastewater treatment plant that was awarded recognition as the "Outstanding Treatment Plant in Utah"...

MFC acquires Midwest Hydraline -- New subsidiary fabricates hydraulic hoses; expands MFC distribution -- MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 22, 2006 -- MFC, formerly Minnesota Flexible Corp., has completed its acquisition of Midwest Hydraline in Galesburg, IL. MFC, located in St. Paul, MN, custom-develops and fabricates industrial and hydraulic hoses, fittings, and related products. Increasing MFC's staff by 50% and expanding its production and distribution capabilities throughout the region, Midwest Hydraline fabricates and repairs hydraulic products including pumps, hoses and tools. The acquisition includes facilities in Galesburg and Peoria, IL. It will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of MFC. Developing innovative solutions in custom hose fabrication, including industrial and hydraulic hoses, fittings, and related products, MFC serves customers in industries to convey fluids, air, and other materials, oftentimes at extreme temperatures or high pressures....

Civil engineers announce outstanding achievement award nominees -- From a pedestrian bridge to dam remediation to a major step forward in physicist's understanding of matter, project span sector, size and location -- RESTON, VA, Feb. 22, 2006 -- The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has announced its five finalists for the 2006 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award (OCEA). The 2006 OCEA finalists are the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge in Charleston, S.C.; the Liberty Bridge in Greenville, S.C.; the Saluda Dam Remediation Project in Columbia, S.C., the Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) Project in Batavia, Ill. and Soudan, Minn.; and Bridge Apollo in Bratislava, Slovakia. This year's award winning project will be named at ASCE's 2006 Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) awards gala on April 26 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C...

Produce Safety & Security International Inc. receives favorable test results of prototype ozone process in dairy wastewater -- PRESCOTT, AZ, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Produce Safety & Security International Inc. (PDSC), a sanitation disinfectant process supplier to the food and medical industries, is pleased to announce it has received favorable test results for its Ozone Process, for the purification of waste water from dairy operations. PDSC plans to use many prototype units for a more extensive research and expand the potential applications for the dairy industry for the purification of the waste water and removal of the odors and bacteria. The ozone process is much safer, economical and leaves no residue...

New Zealand dairy farmers reject irrigation criticism -- CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Feb. 22, 2006 -- Dairy farmers say they do not use more water than any other form of intensive land use. The Canterbury Regional Council is being criticised by environmental, sporting and lobby groups for issuing too many permits to irrigate in water-starved areas. The Council says the water level of some aquifers has never been so low as a result of a series of dry winters and increasing irrigation. Fish and Game says up to 85-percent of lowland streams have been degraded by the reduction in groundwater. But Dairy Farmers of New Zealand says the farmers would not get resource consent if there was a problem with sustainability...
Also see:
-- "Pressure to privatize water"
-- "Westport residents face water shortages"

Ofwat consults on new sustainable development duty -- BIRMINGHAM, UK, Feb. 22, 2006 -- The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) is consulting on its new duty to contribute to sustainable development in carrying out its work in regulating the water industry in England and Wales. Ofwat is asking those with an interest in its work how the organization can make a successful contribution to ensuring that 'the quality of life of future generations is not compromised.' In the consultation, it initially sent queries to around 180 organizations, seeking input for its thinking on sustainable development and key issues for the 2009 price review and beyond...
Also see:
-- "Diversity of life on Earth preserved through Defra-funded projects"
-- "Ofwat summarizes water bill increases"
-- "Environmental permit review to slash red tape"
-- "Ofwat's city briefing gives pointers to the future for new Water Services Regulation Authority"
-- "Ofwat, Ofgem issue joint discussion paper on financing utility networks"
-- "Drinking water quality revealed in annual report by Drinking Water Inspectorate"

International Aid hires Bodenner to head worldwide clean water program -- GRAND RAPIDS, MI, Feb. 22, 2006 -- A seasoned Grand Rapids business consultant and entrepreneur has joined Spring Lake, MI-based International Aid to launch micro businesses worldwide that will provide potable water for developing countries. Bodenner, along with his wife Susan, owns Bishop Hills Elder Care Community in Rockford and also serves as a business consultant for Varnum Consulting LLC in Grand Rapids. Bodenner knows first-hand how clean water can turn around the health of a village through his work in the Dominican Republic, where he beta tested 10 of the BioSand Water Filters that will be distributed by International Aid. After the successful test, Bodenner helped put into operation more than 7,500 BioSand filters in the Dominican Republic and Haiti with over $300,000 raised by Rotary clubs in the U.S., Canada and the Dominican Republic...

Steelworkers, environmental, consumer groups urge California to list Teflon chemical as a carcinogen -- Listing would trigger California's "Right to Know" law -- PITTSBURGH, Feb. 22, 2006 -- On Wednesday, a coalition consisting of the United Steelworkers (USW), Sierra Club, Environmental Law Foundation, Environment California, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Environmental Working Group (EWG) filed a petition to have PFOA listed as "a chemical that is known to the state to cause cancer" under California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly referred to as Proposition 65. PFOA, also called perfluorooctanoic acid or C8, is used to make Teflon cookware and other consumer and industrial products. DuPont is the only industrial producer of PFOA in the United States. Various stain and grease repellents applied to textiles, carpeting and paper food packaging may also break down into PFOA...
Also see:
-- "USW unveils website on Dupont's safety failures"

ACWA voices concerns with water bond package -- Support withheld over new water fee, other provisions as proposed -- SACRAMENTO, CA, Feb. 21, 2006 -- The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today credited the Schwarzenegger Administration for advancing a bold infrastructure and water resources plan for the state, but said concerns with a proposed new fee on water users are preventing the association from supporting the Water Resources Investment Fund in the Governor's water infrastructure financing package. Testifying before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, ACWA State Legislative Director Ronald L. Davis said that while association members support much of the water bond package, the proposed fee on water users to help fund integrated regional water management programs around the state has raised a number of questions and concerns that must be addressed to remove ACWA's opposition. Concerns include the lack of a sunset for the fee, the potential for funds generated by the fee to be redirected for other purposes, problems collecting the fee if it is construed as a tax and therefore subject to Prop. 218 requirements, and the proposed method by which the California Water Commission could raise the fee...

University of Idaho students analyze prototype phosphorus removal system -- COEUR D'ALENE, ID, Feb. 21, 2006 -- Two University of Idaho undergraduate students are evaluating the performance of UI environmental chemist Greg Moller's patent-pending Blue PRO™ process as part of their Engineering Capstone Project. They will investigate how the system might be tweaked to increase its effectiveness in removing phosphorus from wastewater at the Hayden Wastewater Research Facility (HWRF) at the Hayden municipal wastewater treatment plant. The analysis is being conducted in partnership with Blue Water Technologies Inc., which has licensed the technology through the Idaho Research Foundation. The system dramatically reduces phosphorous levels in sewage and industrial waste, ultimately halting the growth of algae in rivers and streams...

Witherspoon Acquisition Corp. launches tender offer for Schuff International Inc. -- NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2006 -- Witherspoon Acquisition Corp. announced today that it has commenced a tender offer with the intent to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Schuff International Inc., for $8.50 per share in cash. Witherspoon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Witherspoon Inc., which is owned by D. E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C., a member of the D.E. Shaw group, and Plainfield Special Situations Master Fund Limited, an investment fund managed by Plainfield Asset Management LLC. Among its products, Schuff manufactures short- and long-span joists, trusses, and girders as well as specializes in the fabrication and erection of large-diameter water pipe, water storage tanks, pollution control scrubbers, tunnel liners, pressure vessels, strainers, filters, separators, and a variety of customized projects...

Danone, Pepsico, Coca-Cola and Nestle hold strong positions in Latin American bottled, bulk water markets -- DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 21, 2006 -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of Zenith International's latest report: "Latin America Bottled and Bulk Water 2006" to its offering of analytical reports. This is the global water specialist's first ever report on bottled and bulk water in Latin America. The Zenith report provides an invaluable insight into bottled water trends of Central and South America, which include some of the biggest bottled water markets worldwide...

Electronic Sensor Technology announces a detection library for chemical warfare agents -- The compound library offers information for use with the zNose 10-second gas chromatograph detector -- NEWBURY PARK, CA, Feb. 21, 2006 -- In light of the recent nerve gas scare at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., Electronic Sensor Technology (ESNR) has announced the availability of a compound library for the detection of Chemical Warfare (Nerve Gas) Agents (CWA) for use in the zNose® Microsense software. The product's 10-second analysis speed and part-per-trillion detection capabilities are proving to be an ideal solution for first responders, especially when response time and accuracy is critical...
Also see:
-- "Electronic Sensor Technology's zNose will appear in episode of CBS's 'CSI:Miami'"
-- "Leading health food company selects Electronic Sensor Technology's zNose for quality control"
-- "Leading international defense contractor select Electronic Sensor Technology's zNose for security applications"

Guelph municipal, library workers on strike to protect public services -- GUELPH, ON, Canada, Feb. 15, 2006 -- Guelph library, inside and outside municipal workers are on strike to protect public services. The 560 workers, who are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), walked out at 12:01 am today. The workers on strike are members of CUPE Local 241, CUPE Local 973 and CUPE Local 1946. Members of Local 241 work in public works, parks and recreation, water treatment, wastewater treatment, traffic and the wet-dry plant, while members of Local 973 provide technical and clerical services at City Hall, such as building inspection, parking services, community services, taxation, recreation centres and other services...
Also see: "Oxford County, Ontario, wastewater workers vote 100% for strike over wage parity"

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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Supreme Court begins review of water quality regulations" -- Also in this report (Feb. 21, 2006): Carbon cartridge market to exceed $6 billion by 2009; Jacobs receives contract from Detroit Water and Sewerage Department; Three organizations go live on Advanced Utility Systems' CIS Infinity; Wataire Industries Inc. announces distributor update, sales in Mexico, Thailand; N-Viro appoints Kasmoch as president, CEO; Chemtura announces organizational changes; IRC to host water supply, sanitation symposium in Netherlands in September; Israel rapidly becoming a world leader in water management; Growth to encourage investments in industrial water recycling in Europe, Middle East; ASCE panel satisfied with progress of Corps' New Orleans levee; Black & Veatch to help improve infrastructure, reduce flooding in Vietnam; PROFIBUS trade organization announces new certification training courses; Aquatech sells ZLD system for FGD wastewater treatment in Springfield, IL; Viking Johnson's LinerGrip guards against leaks in Netherlands; Water quality trading offer more economic opportunities to agricultural producers; Apollo Management renames Tyco Adhesives as Covalence Specialty Materials; Telvent to upgrade EPCOR's SCADA system, manage water in Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Mayo Clinic adopts Labronics software...

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