Austell Boxboard Corp., Austell, Ga., has purchased a Thermo Black Clawson Hydrapurge II-X to upgrade the detrashing process on its filler pulper. The Hydrapurge II-X is designed to remove plastics, Styrofoam, and other lightweight contaminants, as well as heavy debris, directly from the wastepaper pulper tub. The Austell mill processes mixed waste to produce boxboard. Startup of the new equipment is scheduled for mid-2001.

Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) has signed a global agreement for the use of Mountain System's Proficy for Manufacturing. P&G will use the software to address its manufacturing execution system (MES) requirements in a wide variety of production settings, including continuous, batch, and discrete environments.

Madison Paper Co., Alsip, Ill., has purchased equipment from Thermo Black Clawson to upgrade its stock preparation system. The equipment includes Cyclotech cleaners, Lamort high density cleaners, and a Diabolo reject pressure screen. The new equipment supports Madison Paper's announced conversion to lightweight coated (LWC) papers. Scheduled startup for the new equipment is set for fourth quarter 2001.

Pacifica Papers, Powell River, B.C., has ordered two new TMP refiners from Andritz as part of an upgrade to improve reject refining capacity and pulp quality. As a result of the upgrade, the mill will more than double its production of reject fiber.

Simkins Industries, Catonsville, Md., has added a Thermo Black Clawson Ultra-V 400 pressure screen and a Liquid Cyclone cleaner as the fine screening operation in its filler system. The equipment will follow the existing coarse screens. The mill is installing the new equipment in an effort to efficiently remove Styrofoam to produce a cleaner sheet. Simkins processes OCC, mixed waste, and ONP to produce folding boxboard.

Metso Automation has acquired Valcon Corp., designer and supplier of electrically controlled electric actuators and automation solutions for valves.

KanEng Industries Inc., Canadian supplier of paper machine auxiliary equipment, has acquired Deltec Systems Inc. Deltec manufactures steam showers for all paper machine applications. The new company name will be KanEng-Deltec.

Siemens Automation & Drives has acquired the Swedish company, Alt-Optronic, a supplier of laser spectrometry products. The acquisition is part of Siemens growth strategy in process analysis. The company will be managed as a subsidiary of Siemens of Sweden.

PQ Corp., producer of soluble silicates, silica-based derivative products, and solid glass spheres, has acquired Akzo-PQ Silica (APS), PQ's joint venture with Akzo Nobel, which manufactures silicate and silica gel products. PQ announced that the operations involved in this purchase are to be known as PQ Europe. The purchase is designed to enhance PQ's global position in the silicate and silica-related markets.

Fluke Corp., part of the Danaher family of companies and a provider of electronic test tools, announced that Danaher intends to acquire Lifschultz Industries Inc., including its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Hart Scientific Inc. Hart Scientific designs, manufactures, and markets scientific and industrial temperature measurement and calibration equipment at its facility in American Fork, Utah. Under the agreement, Hart will become part of the Fluke Precision Measurement group while continuing to do business as Hart Scientific Inc.

Bosch Automation Technology and Rexroth have merged to form Bosch Rexroth Corp. The new company will have a collective workforce of 26,000 employees working to provide drives and controls to the motion control market.

Illinois Tool Works (ITW) has acquired Sherman Treaters Ltd., manufacturer and provider of adhesion promotion equipment. Sherman Treaters will become part of the ITW static control and air products group. ITW is a manufacturer of highly engineered components and industrial systems.

The board of directors of the Construction Industry Manufacturers Association (CIMA) and the Equipment Manufacturers Institute (EMI) have each voted to approve a memorandum of understanding that would consolidate the groups into one association. If approved by members of both associations, the newly-consolidated association will legally begin operation on January 1, 2002.

Rockwell Automation and Fluor Global Services, a business enterprise of Fluor Corp., have announced a strategic alliance designed to deliver a broad range of service and manufacturing solutions to selected facilities in North America through a single source. The alliance is designed to enable customers to gain the plant floor experience of Rockwell Automation and Fluor to help solve plant maintenance, repair, and asset management challenges.

The Hi-Spec Solutions business of Honeywell Industrial Control has announced that it will incorporate Microsoft Corp.'s new Office XP product into a future release of Honeywell's Uniformance information management system and other advanced solution applications running on the Uniformance software platform.

USCO Logistics and ACCUSHIP have announced the formation of an alliance that allows for the provision of ACCUSHIP's online information management services for USCO's clients. Under the terms of the alliance, ACCUSHIP, a supplier of Internet-based applications, is providing electronic accounting, reporting, and billing for USCO's warehouse and transportation management customers. In turn, ACCUSHIP is joint marketing USCO's suite of logistics services to its clients.

Eka Chemicals has announced it will build a new processing plant for production of silicate products in Green Bay, Wis. Eka Chemicals projects startup of the production unit in mid-2002.

NSK Americas has announced construction of a new 115,000-ft2 headquarters and technology center located in Ann Arbor, Mich. Approximately 40,000 ft2 will be devoted to product engineering associated with ball and roller bearings. Completion is expected in spring 2002.

Jacobs-Sirrine Consultants has relocated to Atlanta, Ga.

Independent motor, switchgear, and transformer services provider Grand Eagle Inc. has moved its corporate headquarters from Chicago, Ill., to Richfield, Ohio.

SAS Institute, provider of e-intelligence and data warehousing, has announced a marketing agreement with CimWorks, a GE Fanuc company that provides data collection software and hardware built from the factory floor up.

Martin Engineering has acquired the rights to manufacture, sell, install, and service the air-supported belt conveyor technology of Grisley Components for industrial applications.

Electromotive Systems, designer and manufacturer of electrification and control products, has signed a marketing agreement with Omron IDM Controls, supplier of AC variable frequency drives. Under the terms of the alliance, Omron IDM will transfer sales and support for its crane and hoist customers to Electromotive Systems.

TD Williamson Inc. (TDW) and Advantica have formed a licensing agreement in an effort to globally market Advantica's Grouted Tee pipeline fitting product. The agreement allows piping products manufacturer TDW to manufacture and install the Grouted Tee for use globally. Advantica is a provider of technology and engineering services.

Baltimore Aircoil Co. (BAC), provider of thermal energy, has named the Whitson Sullivan Co. (WSC) as its exclusive power and process industries sales representative for the Texas territory. WSC will offer BAC's complete line of closed circuit cooling systems, cooling towers, evaporative condensers, and ice thermal storage products.

ABB Process Industries has launched an e-repair Web portal. The portal is designed to allow customers to purchase and track electromechanical repair services. Customers can access the portal to learn about repair services, place orders, print RMA labels, and track progress through the fulfillment process.

Bayer Corp. has expanded the list of e-business options available to customers of the company's polymers and chemicals businesses to include e-Xtensible Mark-up Language (XML) transmissions for receiving and processing customer purchase orders. XML capability enables Bayer to integrate its supply chain systems with its customers' order data.

The SKF storefront on PTplace.com is available for SKF customers to order products electronically and check availability, pricing, and the shipping status of any order.

Adhesives Research Inc. has introduced SplicingSolutions.com, the company's new Web site designed to offer splicing problem solutions. SplicingSolutions.com offers technical analysis of any splicing applications that are causing manufacturing problems.

Chromalox, a supplier of industrial heating solutions, has introduced a redesigned Web site in an effort to offer more design support and online ordering assistance. The offerings of the Web site, found at www.mychromalox.com, include installation guides, instruction sheets, and free downloadable software.

The Measurement Div. of Schlumberger Resource Management Services Inc. has established a flow measurement sub site within the Schlumberger Web site. From the "Products and Services" page on the www.slb.com site, the link "Refined Fuel and Industrial Measurement Products" enables the visitor to view and download product information, technical sheets, photos, and contact information.

Swagelok Products' new e-store, located at www.swagelok.com, offers fluid system component selection and purchasing. It also links users and their orders directly to Swagelok distributors.

Baltimore Aircoil Co. has received independent verification of thermal performance from the Cooling Technology Institute (CTI) in accordance with CTI certification standard STD-201 for the Series V and low-profile Series V closed circuit cooling towers.

Fluid Components International has been ISO 9001 certified and has been recognized as in conformance with AS9000.