WaterBriefs: AISC projects continued growth in structural steel industry in 2007

In other news below:
-- Vertellus Performance Materials wins recognition for EHS&S program
-- Water limited in foothill communities during construction at Weymouth Treatment Plant
-- Alfa Laval divests engineering activity for biopharm industry
-- American Water names Strauss president of AWE Group
-- Federal Signal names Joe Johnson Equipment Inc. dealer in Alberta, Quebec
-- Chicago school receives Pittcon 2007 Science Education Award
-- Measures to attain major energy savings shared at ASHRAE seminar
-- Ahlstrom introduces Disruptor nanoalumina filter technology
-- Black & Veatch secures role in major wastewater treatment upgrades in Perth
-- South African water, wastewater equipment market poised for strong growth
-- Plant, personnel safety to turn fortunes of mature gas detectors and analyzers market

• AISC projects continued growth in structural steel industry in 2007 -- CHICAGO, IL, Dec. 13, 2006 -- Demand for structural steel on construction projects in the United States will continue to grow in 2007, according to industry forecasts released yesterday by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). AISC projects a growth in tonnage demand for structural steel of 2% in 2007.

Members of the structural steel industry at every level of the supply chain are taking steps to ensure that supply continues to meet the expanding needs of the construction industry. The domestic production capacity of structural steel will increase by 10% in 2007 as a result of mill expansions currently under construction.

Notable areas of growth in demand for structural steel in 2007 will include industrial and warehouse projects; parking; schools and universities; and public sector projects. The 2007 forecast shows a continuation of the trend in recent years towards increased usage of structural steel on projects of every description. Overall, forecast data also shows continued growth in total construction volume, with 2007 projected to equal the previous peak of 1.94 billion square feet achieved in 2000.

Industry reports also indicate growth in demand for structural steel on projects not traditionally included in national building square footage statistics, such as power plants, petrochemical and ethanol facilities, processing facilities and non-roofed stadiums, among others.

Roger Ferch, president of AISC, commented, "Structural steel continues to be the material of choice on building projects throughout North America. With continued growth in demand projected for 2007, members of the industry -- from mills and service centers to fabricators and erectors -- are making sure that structural steel remains readily available for every type of project."

More information about structural steel and industry projections for 2007 can be found online at the institute's website.

The American Institute of Steel Construction Inc. (www.aisc.org), with headquarters in Chicago, is a not-for-profit technical institute and trade association established in 1921 to serve the structural steel design community and construction industry. AISC's mission is to make structural steel the material of choice by being the leader in structural steel-related technical and market-building solutions and activities, including: specification and code development, research, education, technical assistance, quality certification, standardization, and market development. AISC has a long tradition of service to the steel construction industry of providing timely and reliable information.

Also see:
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Among other recent headlines:

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• Water limited in foothill communities San Gabriel, Pomona, Walnut Valleys during construction at Weymouth Treatment Plant -- LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12, 2006 -- Residents and businesses in Los Angeles County foothill communities and the San Gabriel, Walnut and Pomona valleys are being called upon to voluntarily reduce their water use beginning Saturday, Dec. 16, while a major regional water treatment plant undergoes upgrades during a five-day shutdown. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California joined local water agencies to make the precautionary water-saving request as Metropolitan prepares for the planned shutdown of its F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant located in La Verne. The Weymouth plant -- one of five such treatment facilities within Metropolitan's distribution system -- is a significant source of drinking water for Los Angeles and Orange counties. The shutdown, the first in 20 years at the Weymouth plant, will affect imported supplies delivered to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the cities of San Marino and Pasadena; Foothill Municipal Water District, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and Three Valleys Municipal Water District. Debra C. Man, Metropolitan's chief operating officer, said the Weymouth plant upgrades are part of a capital program to ensure safe drinking water quality over the long-term future.
Also see: "San Diego Water Department director seated on Metropolitan Water Board"

• Alfa Laval divests engineering activity for biopharm industry -- STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 13, 2006 -- Alfa Laval, a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, has taken the strategic decision to divest its engineering and validation services for the biopharm industry. The company is divesting this activity through a purchase agreement with the Management of this activity. The primary reason for divesting the engineering activity for the biopharm industry, which comprises the offering of engineering and validation services, is the limited connection to Alfa Laval's core business of process solutions and heat transfer, separation and fluid handling products. The divestment is not anticipated to have any negative impact on Alfa Laval's Life Science activity. The turnover of the divested activity is slightly more than SEK 100 million [US$14.63 million] and it employs approximately 110 people.
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• Chicago school receives Pittcon 2007 Science Education Award -- Money to help purchase scientific equipment to implement innovative science curricula -- PITTSBURGH, PA, Dec. 12, 2006 -- The Pittsburgh Conference announced today that the Science Week Committee has selected the science department at the Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative High School as the recipient of the Pittcon 2007 Science Education Award which will be presented at McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, on Jan. 5. The award, a $24,800 grant, will be used to purchase science education equipment to facilitate the implementation of innovative and creative methods to engage Jefferson students in science curricula. This annual award is granted for the best science education proposal submitted by an educational institution, business, or school district in the Pittcon host city region. Pittcon 2007 President Beth Kirol, and Drs. Kerry W. Holzworth and James Bock, Pittcon 2007 Science Week Chair and Chair Elect, (respectively), will be on hand to present the Pittcon Science Education Award. Additional grants to support scientific education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels will be awarded at Pittcon 2007 during Science Week which runs February 24 to March 1, 2007. Science Week is an educational outreach program, sponsored by Pittcon and conducted during the annual conference. The week long program includes educational programs, demonstrations, lectures, and workshops for local science teachers and students...
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Also see: "ASHRAE receives recognition for sustainability efforts"

• Ahlstrom introduces Disruptor nanoalumina filter technology -- HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. 12, 2006 -- Ahlstrom, a leader in high-performance fiber-based materials, announced Nov. 30 the completion of an exclusive licensing agreement with the Argonide Corp., of Sanford, FL, to manufacture and commercialize their patented electropositive nano fiber filter media. The new Ahlstrom product is based on Argonide technology developed through basic research over the last 5 years. The development was partially funded by NASA, aimed at purifying recycled water in advanced space vehicles, used on the moon and beyond. Argonide's NanoCeram^® water filter received the Space Foundation's Hall of Fame award for 2005. Ahlstrom and Argonide have been working closely together to obtain independent test data validating the effectiveness of the technology and to initiate the commercialization process. Disruptor™ is a wet laid technology that is designed to be used in pleated, spiral wound, disc or flat sheet media formats. The key to the effectiveness of Disruptor is the grafting of alumina nanofibers onto microglass fiber. The microglass fiber acts as a platform for the nanoalumina while also enhancing flow rates through the creation of pore space and providing mechanical retention for large or uncharged particles...
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• Plant, personnel safety to turn fortunes of mature gas detectors and analyzers market -- PALO ALTO, CA, Dec. 11, 2006 -- The market for gas sensors, detectors and analyzers is certainly growing from a global perspective. Market participants expect to tap opportunities by educating end users on the advantages of using different sensors. There is a shift in the combustible gas market as catalytic gas detectors are gaining lost ground owing to their extensive detection capability, which is driving the growth of combustible market. Frost & Sullivan's study, "World Gas Sensors, Detectors, Analyzers", reveals that the three markets earned revenues of $48.5 million, $680 million, and $278.5 million respectively in 2005 and estimates this to reach $80.6 million, $947.3 million and $376.1 million in 2012...

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