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JOINT VENTURES

Brunnschweiler S.A., Munguia, Spain, and Kleissler Co., Lakeland, Fla., have formed an affiliation to offer drying systems, dust control, and air technology to the paper industry worldwide. Kleissler will sell, manufacture, and install Brunnschweiler drying systems in North America. Brunnschweiler will sell, manufacture, and install Kleissler dust control systems in Europe and South America.

GL&V/Black Clawson-Kennedy (GLV/ BC-K) has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with BTF GmbH of Germany for the exclusive rights of the company’s new headbox that incorporates a new profile control system. The BTF system features a distributor-pulsation damper that ensures even flow distribution across the entire machine width. BTF has more than 100 installations throughout Europe, and GLV/BC-K will bring BTF’s symmetrical concept of web formation to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America.

Discflo and Irish Engineering have jointly developed the Discflo-FloDirector (DFD)—a stock transfer system that features laminar and pulsation-free flow.

Waukesha Cherry-Burrell, a Delavan, Wis.-based manufacturer of fluid handling products and turnkey process systems, and ProFlow Systems of New Haven, Conn., have started the Industry Champion program to supply ProFlow’s knowledge throughout the Waukesha distributor network. Under this program, Waukesha and ProFlow will co-manage pump sales into the pulp and paper industry. Waukesha will serve as product manager and ProFlow will be the market manager.

Intellution Inc., a supplier of industrial automation solutions, has announced an interface capability with Mountain Systems Inc., a manufacturing execution systems (MES) software company specializing in pulp and paper. The interface provides a seamless plant floor-to-MES solution for quality and product management.

Xycom Automation Inc. of Saline, Mich., a supplier of industrial open architecture solutions, and Wonderware Corp., a unit of British-based Siebe plc that is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., have announced an agreement for the development and joint marketing of Wonderware software on Xycom’s computers.

Cadcentre Group plc, a supplier of computer-aided design solutions, has made an alliance with AEA Technology Engineering Software (AEAT) to develop a new generation of plant design systems that incorporates the best features of both their current products. Cadcentre will also assume responsibility for supporting all AEAT’s existing plant customers worldwide. In addition, Cadcentre has launched its 3D plant design management system that can import items created in Visio Technical’s 2D design environment. Cadcentre and Visio Technical can now deliver a concept-to-detail process plant design solution.

According to a strategic partnership, Cognex Corp. will provide its core machine vision technology for Avalon Imaging’s next generation of special-purpose vision systems. In addition, Cognex will provide Avalon with $1 million in equity financing, which will be used to help fund Avalon’s product development and expansion of its marketing and support channels.

Data Collection Systems Inc. (DCSI) and Vertical Systems, both located in Eden Prairie, Minn., have formed a strategic partnership. Vertical Systems will work with clients to design and develop application extensions to enhance the functionality of DCSI’s Warehouse Advantage software.

 

ACQUISITIONS

Sequa Corp. has acquired Thermo Wisconsin Inc., a unit of Thermo Fibertek, and will combine the operation with its Megtec Systems subsidiary. Sequa is a supplier of continuous process dryers, air pollution control equipment, and web and air handling systems. The combined business will operate from Megtec’s locations in DePere, Wis.and Evry, France.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Motion Industries, a distributor of bearings and mechanical, electrical, and fluid power transmission equipment, has acquired Lou Bearings and Transmission Ltd. of Waterloo, Ont. Lou is a provider of bearings and transmission components that also has Ontario facilities in Guelph, Cambridge, London, and Sarnia.

Durr Environmental Inc. of Plymouth, Mich., a manufacturer of VOC and NO_x air abatement systems, has acquired Regenerative Environmental Equipment Co. Inc. (REECO) of Branchburg, N.J., which will continue to operate under the REECO name as a unit of Durr Environmental.

Jagenberg Verpackungstechnik GmbH has acquired Woschnik & Partner Maschinenbau GmbH, a manufacturer of high capacity automatic die-cutters for producing folding carton blanks in board or paper.

ITT Industries Inc., a pump producer based in White Plains, N.Y., has purchased Wisconsin-based Water Pollution Control Corp., which produces aeration products and systems for wastewater treatment.

Rohm and Haas has acquired Morton International Inc. in a cash and stock transaction. The company anticipates growth from Morton’s adhesives, powder coatings, electronic materials, plastic additives, and biocides.

Hubbell Lighting Inc. of Christiansburg, Va., has acquired Chalmit Lighting of Glasgow, Scotland. Chalmit Lighting is a manufacturer of lighting fixtures for hazardous and corrosive locations.

Shin Nippon Koki Co. Ltd. (SNK) and Daiwa Can Co., both of Japan, have acquired Orlando Machine Engineering Center (OMEC) of Oak Brook, Ill. The new company, called Somec, is based in Orlando, Fla., and provides engineering services, equipment manufacturing, complete overhaul programs, spare parts, and tool and die design and manufacture.

Tuthill Corp. of Canton, Mass., has acquired P&M Vacuum Services Ltd. UK and has merged it with Kinney Vacuum Pumps, Tuthill’s division that manufactures industrial vacuum pumps. The business will operate under the name Tuthill Vacuum Systems.

Richard Harley (E.L. Harley Inc.) and Curt Rutsky purchased the assets of Magnat Machinery Inc. Reorganized under the name Magnat MachineTech Inc. it will continue the current product line, which includes coating machines, associated web handling equipment, and custom machines.

 

PRICING

The Dow Chemical Co. has increased the off-list selling price for liquid chlorine sold in the U.S. by $30.00/short ton. New prices will not exceed the current list price of $255.00/short ton, f.o.b. shipping point (Freeport, Texas, or Plaquemine, La.), buyer absorbs freight. The increase is effective immediately to all spot customers or as contract terms permit.

 

TECHNOLOGY

ABB’s ACS 1000 medium-voltage drive has become the first MV drive in the industry to be certified by Underwriters Laboratories. The drive covers a 400 hp to 6,700 hp range in voltages of 2.3, 3.3, and 4.16kV.

Imo Pump has been awarded a U.S. patent for the design and manufacture of a non-metallic barrier can for use on magnetic drive pumps. The can is used on magnetic drive sealless pumps to provide the barrier between the pumped liquid and the atmosphere.

 

RELOCATIONS

Vulcan Chemicals has relocated its office to 1200 Urban Center Dr., Birmingham, Ala.

 

NEW FACILITIESJ

ABB Drives & Power Products in New Berlin, Wis., has opened a new 2,200 ft² load simulator facility for the company’s ACS 1000 medium-voltage AC drives.

Trace Laboratories has moved into a new 30,000 ft² building with advanced facilities to accommodate Sonoco’s SDS tester. The SDS Tester is the world’s only test device that consistently and accurately measures the dynamic strength of paper mill cores. Although Sonoco currently operates eight of the testers throughout Europe and North America, Trace Labs is the only such testing site open to the industry. In the new facility, Trace will test any paper manufacturer’s cores for comparative and quality analysis purposes.

 

EXPANSIONS/MODERNIZATIONS

James Ross Ltd., a provider of on machine cleaning technologies, has opened a service office in Vancouver, B.C., to serve the onsite needs of paper mills from Alberta to California.

Neles Controls has opened a spare parts center in Shrewsbury, Mass. The center will reduce turnaround time on OEM parts for its control valves and actuators. It will also provide emergency delivery of standard replacement parts within 24 hours.

The sales and marketing of paper machines and stock preparation equipment of Voith Sulzer Paper Technology has been combined with the finishing activities at Voith Sulzer Finishing Ltd. in Manchester, Great Britain. A new service center is being equipped with a crane system as well as turning, grinding, and drilling machines.

Helwig Carbon Products Inc. has completed a 35,000 ft² expansion for its brush-holder department, molded brush division, and electrical contact manufacturing and repair department.

 

CERTIFICATIONS

Appleton Mills Forming Fabrics in Florence, Miss., has been awarded ISO 9002 certification.

 

REORGANIZATION

Dresser-Rand Co. has reconfigured its traditional product division organization into five global regions: North America, South America, Europe, Mideast-Eurasia-North Africa, and Asia Pacific. The new regional structure replaces the company’s traditional product division organization. In addition to the five business regions, there are two service organizations: product services and compression services.

 

MARKETING/LICENSING

ABS Pumps Inc.—a subsidiary of Sweden’s Cardo Group that manufactures centrifugal pumps, mixers, and aerators—and Flowserve Corp., a provider of industrial flow management services, have agreed to co-market select pump products in the U.S. and Canada.

Scanrec Inc. (formerly Presona Inc.) of Waco, Texas, is now the North American subsidiary of the Scanrec AB Group. Scanrec represents the following companies: Scandinavian Recycling AB, Presona AB, Franz Arnold’s Sohne, Morinders AB, and Eleicko AB. Scanrec supplies complete recycling solutions for a variety of recycled materials—from electronics scrap to paper.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has accredited National Technical Systems (NTS), an independent network of testing laboratories, as a nationally recognized testing laboratory. NTS can now certify products to 12 product safety standards.

 

AWARDS

Motion Industries Inc. has received Champion International Corp.’s first Supplier Quality Assurance (SQA) Gold Level Award. Motion was selected for exceeding Champion’s 1998 cost savings goals and for helping to meet Champion’s inventory management objectives.

 

NAME CHANGES

Preventive Maintenance Co. Inc. has taken a new name, PMCI. PMCI, or Precise Machinery Condition Intelligence, describes the range of predictive technology and emergency services that PMCI provides.