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SUPPLIER NEWS
Beloit has announced an agreement with Tidland Corp. to add new slitter-related technology to its product line. Under the agreement, Beloit can offer customers Tidland electronic slitter positioning (ESPR)-a computerized system that simultaneously repositions all slitter knives to provide a reposition accuracy tolerance of 0.002 in.
Valmet and Raisio Group's Raisio Chemicals Ltd. have set up a joint venture called Valmet-Flootek Ltd. to focus on the wastewater treatment business in the paper industry. Valmet owns 51% of the new venture, and Raisio Chemicals owns 49%. In the new company, Valmet and Raisio Chemicals will combine their existing equipment and process knowledge in water treatment. From Raisio Group, this includes Raisio Engineering Oy's environmental technology business and the entire stock of Flootek AB, a Swedish-based company specializing in environmental technology.
Moore Industries has announced a partnership with ObjectAutomation Inc. (OA) to bring object-based auto-
mation solutions to manufacturing through hardware/software integration and object-based control. In the new partnership with OA, Moore Industries will be integrating its hardware products with OA's industrial automation software, Oaenterprise, to create solutions for end users of industrial control systems. The partnership's first integrated product
-Moore Industries site-programmable alarm with Oaenterprise software-is now available.
J.D. Edwards, an enterprise software provider, and Taylor Manufacturing Systems, a developer of an advanced planning and scheduling (APS) system, have announced a product alliance partnership. Taylor's APS system will be integrated into J.D. Edward's WorldSoftware enterprise software to help further reduce production lead time, increase capacity utilization, and improve customer service levels.
Bosch Automation Technology, Racine, Wis., and Wisconsin Machine Tool Corp., West Allis, Wis., have announced a partnership agreement. Wisconsin Machine Tool will integrate Bosch's CNC controls, servo drives, hydraulics, and pneumatics into the design of its new machines.
Groupe Laperriere & Verreault Inc. (GL&V) has announced that it has concluded an agreement through its new subsidiary GL&V/Celleco Inc. to purchase the assets of the private Swedish company Alfa Laval Celleco, a supplier of filtration and pulp cleaning technologies for the paper industry.
Harnischfeger Industries has announced that it has discontinued exploring the possible sale of Beloit Corp., as well as other methods of separating its principal businesses. According to Jeffery T. Grade, chairman and CEO of Harnischfeger, softer-than-anticipated pulp and paper markets, combined with economic uncertainties in Asia, Russia, and Latin America, have affected the industry, as well as potential buyers of Beloit. He further indicated that Harnischfeger would not undertake a transaction that did not enhance shareholder value.
Applied Extrusion Technologies (AET), a developer of specialized plastic films used in packaging, has received a proposal from Huntsman Packaging Corp., to acquire AET. AET will respond after a review of the proposal.
Microfluidics International Corp., a supplier of microfluidizer materials processing equipment, has acquired the assets of Epworth Manufacturing Co. and Morehouse-Cowles Inc. Each company has a product line of crushing/grinding, mixing, dissolving, and dispersion systems.
IDEX Corp has sold its Strippit business unit to LVD Company n.v., Gullegem, Belgium, in order to focus on its pump and engineered equipment businesses.
Prime Service Inc., a supplier of equipment rental services, has purchased Clementina Equipment Co., Burlingame, Calif.
Eaton Corp. has acquired Minnetonka, Minn.-based Integrated Partial Discharge Diagnostics Inc. (IPPD). IPPD develops partial discharge technologies for online diagnostics that enable measurement of insulation deterioration within AC power equipment. IPPD will become part of Eaton's Culter-Hammer Engineering Services and Systems.
Technor asa, a Norwegian-based company specializing in hazardous area equipment, has acquired ISIS Products, a manufacturer of data terminals, from Datacolor International.
Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc. has agreed to acquire Electrical Connector Technologies Inc. (ECT). ECT offers single-pin cam-type cable connectors and panel-mounted receptacles that supply temporary electrical power distribution.
Four companies in industrial non-contact laser-based measurement have merged into a new worldwide group under the name of Laser Measurement International Inc., with headquarters in Vancouver, B.C. The four companies are: Selcom, Gothenburg, Sweden; Dynamic Control Systems (DynaVision), Vancouver, B.C.; Sensors-95 bv, Maastricht, The Netherlands; and Sami (Sensor Adaptive Machines Inc.), Windsor, Ont.
Millenium Inorganic Chemicals has announced a price increase of $0.04/lb in the U.S. and C$0.07/lb in Canada for both its anatase and rutile Tiona titanium dioxide products for the paper market.
GEO Specialty Chemicals Inc. has announced a $0.025/lb increase for all list and off-list prices of its Nopcote and Flowco brands of aqueous dispersions of calcium stearate. The company cited rising labor, distribution, capital equipment, and raw materials costs for the price increase.
Honeycomb Products Corp., Dolton, Ill., has opened a new 37,500 ft2 manufacturing facility in Norton Shores, Mich. The new facility offers a full range of kraft paper honeycomb for packaging and structural applications, as well as its line of dunnage materials and paper pallets.
Louisiana-Pacific Corp., a building products company, has opened its first centralized research and development facility in Sherwood, Ore., near the company's Portland headquarters.
Laminations, a manufacturer of laminated paper products for shipping, packaging, and warehousing, has opened a new 30,000 ft2 manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Fla. In addition, Laminations has opened a new stocking hub in Louisville, Ky.
Dow Chemical Co. has stopped production of its epoxy amine weak base anion exchange product-Dowex WGR-2. According to Dow, this move is part of a larger effort to improve Dow's resin product line and service levels. The company now provides a range of alternatives to Dowex WGR-2 that provides additional benefits in many cases. To assist customers in the transition, Dow has published a brief technical paper.
Louisiana-Pacific Corp., a building products company, has announced that it will close its Nature Guard cement fiber roofing plant in Red Bluff, Calif.
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3M Chemicals' paper and packaging business has announced an immediate end to its mill allocation program for 3M Scotchban Protector FC-845-an FDA-regulated repellent for grease, oil, and water. The successful expansion of specialty chemical capacity at its production facilities in Decatur, Ala., and Antwerp, Belgium, was credited with helping 3M resolve its FC-845 supply issues.
To meet and exceed growing production demands, J&L Fiber Services has purchased and installed two George Fischer/DISA 30 in.-by-60 in. molding machines. Each machine has a two-cavity mold flask and is capable of producing a complete mold within a single cycle. J&L mold production capacity has doubled with the addition of this equipment.
Praxair Inc. has announced expansion of its customer inventory management program-Praxair Supply Management-that controls customers' costs to maintain a reliable industrial gas supply. Customers using industrial gases for batch processing or who place individual orders with Praxair can now participate at no charge with sufficient notice and unrestricted access to their liquid storage tanks. Praxair will expand the program to include additional features, such as monthly customer purchase orders or release numbers included on delivery tickets.
Albany International has opened a new 80,000 ft2 plant in Chungju, South Korea. Built to serve customers in South Korea and Southeast Asia, the new facility technology. MARKETING/LICENSIN
Biothane Corp., Camden, N.J., has entered into a business cooperation agreement with Kvaerner Water of Norway to represent its HCR high-rate aerobic technology exclusively in the U.S.
Pacific Scientific, a Danaher company, and Control Techniques, a division of Emerson Electric, have announced a strategic sales alliance that will combine Control Techniques' adjustable speed drive products with Pacific Scientific's high-power, brushless Pactorq motor line.
MSC Industrial Supply is now the sole company in the U.S. that can distribute Bridgeport milling machines and Harig surface grinders on a national basis.
Osmonics Inc., a supplier of water purification and fluid filtration equipment, has announced an extensive plan to streamline its organization and reduce operating expenses. The plan will reduce its worldwide employment levels by 10%. In addition, the company is consolidating manufacturing and support functions to reduce costs and better utilize existing capacity.
Applied Extrusion Technologies, a developer of specialized plastic films used in packaging, has announced a major restructuring of its Covington, Va., manufacturing facility. The restructuring plan includes the shutdown of two older, less efficient production lines, relocation of certain operations to other locations, and the elimination of approximately 200 full-time positions.
Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. has announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Harbor Management Consultants Inc., to provide consulting services and information management systems to customers throughout the U.S. The focus of the new subsidiary is to reduce environmental management costs and improve environmental performance through the use of information technology and management services.
Pacific Scientific, a supplier of motion control equipment, has announced a restructuring of key personnel that will realign resources to better address
customer needs.
Walbro Corp., a designer and manu-
facturer of fuel systems, has announced plans to consolidate its small engine carburetor operations to enhance efficiency and improve customer service. Walbro will close its diaphragm carburetor manufacturing facility in the Republic of Singapore and most of the plant's production will be moved to the company's new manufacturing facility in Nogales, Mexico.
Environmental Resources Management (ERM), an environmental, health, and safety firm, has established an independent environmental management systems (EMS) certification body under the name ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS). The new company will provide accredited certification against the international environmental management system standard ISO 14001 and verification against the European Union's economic management and audit scheme (EMAS) regulation.
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