MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS

The Voith Group of Companies, Heidenheim, Germany, has announced that it intends to purchase from the Scapa Group plc, Blackburn, G.B., the business segments dealing with paper machine clothing, as well as paper machine roll covers, industrial rolls, and service. Voith will merge the new business with existing group divisions of Voith Sulzer Paper Technology or Voith Appleton Paper Machine Clothing. It is planned that Voith Appleton Paper Machine Clothing and Scapa Paper Machine Clothing will operate as an independent group division.

ABB, a supplier of manufacturing exe-cution systems (MES) for the paper industry, has finalized its acquisition of Elsag Bailey Process Automation’s production management and tracking systems group. With the acquisition, ABB gains SemTracker, an order fulfillment system, and will continue to support all customers.

MG Generon, a supplier of membrane technology for onsite nitrogen generation, has purchased the assets and technology of Arbor Research Corp. of Ann Arbor, Mich. MG Generon will introduce the new line of Generox modular, high-purity pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems pioneered by Arbor Research, as well as small-tonnage vacuum PSA systems for onsite oxygen production.

Building One Services Corp., a facilities services company that provides products and services for routine building operation and maintenance, has acquired four mechanical and three electrical contracting service companies. They are Sanders Brothers Inc., American Air Co., Advent Electric Co. Inc., DFW Mechanical Services Inc., Potter Electric Co. Inc., Hunt Electric Inc., and Omni Mechanical Services.

Koch Membrane Systems Inc., a worldwide environmental solutions provider and manufacturer of water purification and other fluid separations systems, has acquired a majority interest in Abcor Japan Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. This investment will meet the needs of Japanese and Asian markets through local distribution channels.

Federal Signal Corp.’s Electrical Products Div. has acquired the business and assets of Atkinson Dynamics, a global provider of heavy-duty industrial intercoms. Atkinson Dynamics’ operations have been moved to Federal Signal’s facility in University Park, Ill.

 

EXPANSIONS

F&W Forestry Services Inc., a provider of forestry management and consulting services, has expanded its service area with the opening of new satellite offices in Jasper, Ala., and El Dorado, Ark.

HBS Reliability Technologies has established a new division—The Reliability Knowledge-network—that will use the Internet to develop an industrial equipment reliability database for use by subscriber companies. The new service allows clients to implement corporate reliability strategies, improve financial results, and benchmark their equipment reliability using 21 key performance indicators.

Tecon Services Inc. of Houston, Texas, has established an industrial coatings division in addition to its specialized contract services for insulation, fire proofing, and heat tracing,

Olin Chlor Alkali Products Div., a producer of chlorine and caustic soda, recently expanded its facility in Augusta, Ga., to increase the plant’s sodium hydrosulfite capacity by one-third.

 

JOINT VENTURES

Hewlett Packard, a supplier of incircuit test and automated inspection systems, has selected Unicam Software Inc., a supplier of manufacturing execution systems, as its first complementary solution provider. Unicam will develop and market MES products and services for use with HP’s intelligent-text systems. By creating an open-systems interface, HP has made it easier for Unicam to deliver valuable process-control infor-mation directly from the shop floor to manufacturing decision-makers.

Swagelok and Ogontz Corp. have ann-ounced an exclusive technology agreement that combines Swagelok’s steam trap with Ogontz’s patented automatic variable orifice “modulator” system to create an efficient steam trap for light loads.

Cadcentre Group plc has announced its participation in Parametric Technology Corp.’s Cooperative Software Partner Programme. This partnership will promote closer links between process plant design and mechanical design.

The Dow Chemical Co. has entered into several cooperative warranty agreements with roofing manufacturers who use Styrofoam insulation to provide owners, architects, and contractors with single-source warranties. New arrangements have been made with Carlisle SynTec Inc., American Hydrotech Inc., and Steelox Systems Inc. Arrangements already exist with GenFlex Roofing Systems, Koppers Industries Inc., Sarnafil Inc., Soprema, and Stevens Roofing Systems.

 

MARKETING/LICENSING

GE Industrial Systems and Conmark Systems Inc. have formed an alliance to market web breakage system technology for the paper industry. Each company contributes products and services: process automation and control systems from GE and structured analysis of break statistics and review of mill and machine conditions by CSI.

KBC Advanced Technologies plc of the U.K. and OSI Software Inc. of San Leandro, Calif., have agreed that OSI will have an exclusive license to further develop and market KBC’s Sigmafine software technology. KBC is a consultant to the oil refining industry; OSI will apply the technology to other process industries.

Bezner America LLC has announced its formation as the exclusive North American distributor for all Bezner Maschinen GmbH separating and sorting equipment used for processing solid waste and recovering recyclables.

American Sigma is strengthening its customer and sales operations. Carolina Environmental Technologies of Mooresville, N.C., will represent Sigma’s line of flow, sampling, and water quality monitoring products in the Carolinas. Coastal Products Company Inc., based in Ashland, Va., will represent it in Virginia, and Kerrigan-DuPree Inc., New Orleans, La., will represent American Sigma in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Knauf Fiber Glass has renewed an agreement with Pamsil, S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rolan Aislantes Minerales, S.A. de C.V., in which Knauf will retain exclusive distribution and marketing rights for Temperlite expanded perlite insulation products in the U.S. and Canada.

Electric Funds and Data Corp. and RRT Design and Construction have entered into an exclusive 10-year licensing relationship. RRT Total Billing Solution Services will market EF&D’s automated billing products, including Internet-driven Bill Site and PaySite.

 

REORGANIZATIONS

Standard Register, a provider of document management systems, has formed a new Electronic Commerce Group that combines the resources of the company’s SmartWorks 3.0 Internet commerce and Electronic Data Interchange teams. This will provide customers with expanded order-entry capabilities.

 

NEW FACILITIES

Buckman Laboratories has opened its new operating plant in Singapore. The 9,210 ft² site houses Buckman Asia’s production plant, technical service center, warehouse, and offices.

SUS-RAP Protective Packaging, a Danville, Va.-based division of Menasha Corp., has opened a manufacturing site in Rockwall, Texas. The 55,000 ft² facility will manufacture the Menasha Pad line of protective packaging products.

Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, a manufacturer of viscometers and rheo-meters, has opened a new 100,000 ft² world headquarters and manufacturing in Middleboro, Mass.

 

CERTIFICATIONS

Eka Chemicals, Paper Chemicals Div., has successfully passed its re-registration to the ISO 9001-94 standard. The audit was conducted at Eka’s new Marietta, Ga., office facility.

EDM Services Inc., an architecture/ engineering firm in Dalton, Mass., has earned ISO 9001 registration.

Forberg Scientific Inc., Troy, Mich., has been certified as an ISO 9002 company at all Michigan and Ohio offices.