ISPC Financing has extended business hours in its Credit and Collections Departments to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday (EST) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. ?
Pro Products, LLC acquired American Hydro Systems, Inc., makers of Rid O’ Rust® products that remove and prevent rust stains typically caused by sprinkler systems using iron-bearing water. ?
As of June 2007, US Resin’s new mailing address is 2625 Redwing Road #225, Fort Collins, CO 80526. Phone numbers remain unchanged: phone (888) 565-1102; fax (888) 462-1101. The Los Angeles, Calif. warehouse will not be relocating. For further details, visit the website, www. usresin.com. ?
Integrated marketing and brand development firm Heibing is now the agency of record for Kinetico, Inc. The agency will be responsible for communicating the value of the company’s international water technology and solutions. ?
CNW Telebec announced that Culligan has reached an agreement with GE Money, the Canadian consumer-lending unit of the General Electric Company, to provide financing for consumers purchasing Culligan’s products. ?
The generosity of 377 WQA members resulted in $727,570 for the Water Quality Research Foundations. The donors met—and exceeded—the $300,000 Ray Cross Challenge by an additional $127,570. ?
In July Water Tec of Tucson split from Water Tec International and moved to 4601 S. 3rd Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85714. The phone number remains the same (520) 790-1512. The company will continue to provide wholesale and retail water conditioning products and services in Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Mexico. ?
North America
Tomlinson honored at AVEX
Tomlinson Industries announced that its HFS® Series faucets with AgION® Technology received the 2007 Cooler & Vending Best Use of New Technology Award in the water cooler category. The competition, organized by Zenith International Publishing in conjunction with its Cooler Innovation magazine and website, was sponsored by Eden Springs Europe. The awards were announced in April at a dinner held in London as part of AVEX 2007 featuring The Cooler Show.
Anniversary celebration for ChungHo Nais
ChungHo USA, the leading global partner of the ChungHo Group, recently held a dedication ceremony at the Oxford Palace Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif. in honor of its fifth anniversary in the US market. The event boasted more than 150 attendees from its marketing partner, Triple Market World (TMW). Guests were entertained by notable speakers and took part in educational product forums. Dr. William Joung, Chairman and Founder of the Group, spoke on the company’s continued commitment to growth and development. ChungHo USA CEO Edward S. Park has pioneered the company’s developments for the US. The expansion of the company has been exponential and it plans to reach Central and South America, Africa and India by years’ end. High customer satisfaction resulted in the company’s receipt of the Korea Customer Satisfaction in Management Award from the Korea Management Association. During the 2001-2006 period, ChungHo was honored for superior customer service and product competitiveness by winning the Grand Prix of the Technology Frontier Award from Korean Standards Association.
Crystal media certified
Mineral-Right, Inc. has received Water Quality Association (WQA) certification for its manmade silica-based crystal media for ion exchange in water treatment. Crystal-Right™ has been successfully tested under NSF/ANSI Standard 61: Drinking Water System Components to meet and/or exceed industry standards for contaminant reduction, structural integrity and material safety. Sister company Water-Right, Inc. has exclusive use of the product for its line of self-chlorinating water softeners.
Increased IWC participation expected
Coordinators of the 67th International Water Conference (IWC), to be held in Orlando Fla., expect an all-time high attendance record. Hilton Hotel in Disney Village will host the October 21-24 event. IWC sessions feature original technical content that is peer-reviewed prior to presentation to ensure that only the latest material is presented. The format allows the attendees a free and open discussion of the merits. Only a few locations are left and space is limited. Companies that wish to exhibit are encouraged to contact Tracy Devlin at (412) 261-0710 or [email protected] eswp.com as soon as possible.
Export award for Clack
The State of Wisconsin recently honored Clack Corporation with the Governor’s Export Achievement Award for medium-sized companies, designed to recognize companies that have achieved extraordinary results in international sales. Export Sales Coordinator Claudia Pilger accepted the award from Governor James Doyle.
Homespring certification for Nelsen
The Nelsen Corporation and all of its salespeople have achieved certification with respect to GE requirements to distribute and sell its Homespring Central Water Purifier. Because of the unique nature of the system, the seriousness of a microbiological purifier claim and the training required to apply these systems, the unit is only available through authorized distributors such as Nelsen Corporation and must be installed by authorized Homespring technicians. For certification requirements, contact Nelsen Corporation at (866) 745-6000 or visit the GE Water website www.gewater.com.
NSF global agreements
NSF International announced agreements with the California Department of Health Services (CDHS), the Standards Institution of Israel (SII) and the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR). The CDHS agreement will expedite the certification approval process for water softeners and filters sold within that state, substantially reducing the time it takes to get drinking water treatment products to market. Manufacturers certified by NSF’s Drinking Water Treatment Certification Program will be able to work directly with the agency to gain State of California certification. Discussions regarding the potential addition of NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems to the agreement are underway.
NSF’s agreement with SII will provide enhanced standards development and auditing services in Israel and will expedite certification services for companies located or working in that country, further expanding NSF’s global reach. Under the terms of the agreement, the institute will offer ISO audits and certification services on behalf of NSF for NSF-certified companies located in Israel. NSF will also license SII to translate and distribute NSF/ANSI Standards.
The NSF-KTR agreement will make available additional testing and certification services for drinking water and food equipment manufacturers in Korea. Both agencies will provide manufacturers with a means to gain acceptance for products in North America, Korea and around the world.
Calgon news
Calgon Carbon Corporation reported net income of $2.0 million for the first quarter of 2007, as compared to a net loss of $1.4 million for the first quarter of 2006. Net income consisted of $2.0 million from continuing operations (zero from discontinued operations). On a fully diluted share basis, the first quarter 2007 earnings per common share were $0.05 from continuing operations. In other news, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision completely rejecting the company’s appeal in the case of Wedeco v. Calgon Carbon. The decision affirmed the 2006 judgment by the US District Court for the District of New Jersey that declared both of Calgon Carbon’s patents directed to the use of UV light to inactivate Cryptosporidium and Giardia in drinking water (US patents 6,129,893 and 6,565,803) invalid in their entirety.
GE news
The Department of Natural Resources and Parks for King County, Wash., presented GE Water & Process Technologies with the Green Globe Award for outstanding achievement in the Leader in Reclaimed Water category. The biennial award is the county’s highest honor for businesses, organizations and individuals that foster environmental stewardship by protecting the environment, managing natural resources and benefiting the community. Across the world in the Coega Industrial Zone, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, the company will design and construct a reverse osmosis (RO) seawater desalination plant to provide 70,000 m3/day of fresh water.
Dow price increases announced
The Dow Chemical Company announced price increases for acrylic acid and esters (acrylic monomers or acrylates), effective July 1 or as otherwise allowed by individual contract terms. Butyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate increases by region are: North America, $0.05 per pound; Asia Pacific, Middle East/Africa and Latin America, $120 per metric ton and Europe, €90 per metric ton. Increases for ethyl acrylate, methyl acrylate and glacial acrylic acid are: North America, $0.03 per pound; Asia Pacific, Middle East/Africa and Latin America, $70 per metric ton and Europe, €50 per metric ton.
Carbon association formed
Professional Analytical and Consulting Services (PACS) announced the formation of the new Activated Carbon Manufacturers and Suppliers Association, an independent subdivision of the International Activated Carbon Conference (IACC) and Courses program. The association’s first meeting will be held during IACC’s annual conference, October 18-19, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Interested individuals are invited to attend the Leadership Speaker talk at the conference. PACS also announced that nomination letters are being sought for the 21st and 22nd IACCs for the Activated Carbon Hall of Fame Award in 2007 and 2008. Email [email protected] aol.com or visit www.pacslabs. com for more information.
Swimming program introduced to reduce water fears
The International Swimming Hall of Fame of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (ISHOF) and the Transpersonal Swimming Institute of Sarasota, Fla. (TSI) have teamed up to bring swimming and water safety to every person. The organizations believe the TSI learn-to-swim program for adults, expanded to include children, is essential to improve aquatic safety and prevent drowning. According to a 1998 Gallup poll, 46 percent of American adults are afraid in deep water in pools; 64 percent are afraid in open water. Afraid swimmers are at the greatest risk in water accidents. TSI created a significant, effective method to teach the fearful population and has helped thousands of adults since 1983 to overcome their fear and be safer in water. ISHOF/TSI is offering training and materials to qualified instructors to expand their learn-to-swim programs to the millions afraid in water.
California water softener rebates offered
The Water Resources Association of San Benito County (WRASBC) announced a $150 water softener replacement rebate program for current system owners. WRASBC’s Get The Salt Out! program is directed at consumers that own a currently working, timer-based softener unit installed prior to November 1999. The
City of Hollister, the City of San Juan Bautista or the Sunnyslope County Water District must be the water service provider. For more information, visit www. wrasbc. orgwater_softener_rebate_form. htm or call WRASBC at (831) 637-4378.
The Signal News and LA Daily News reported that residents in the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) are being encouraged to take advantage of a rebate program that will pay to remove their automatic water softeners and reduce the amount of salt discharged into the Santa Clara River. The rebate program will give residents 100 percent of the value of their softeners—from $325 to $2,000. Sanitation officials indicated residents should act now, while their unit has the most value. The program will send a plumber to remove the system and haul it away for free. Call (877) CUT-SALT, visit lacsd. org/chloride or email [email protected] lacsd.org for program details.
Adventus products honored
Frost & Sullivan announced The Adventus Group was selected to receive the market research firm’s 2007 Product Innovation Award in the North American environmental remediation market. The award was given for two of the company’s proprietary remediation biotechnologies (DARAMEND® and EHC®). The family of solutions provides treatment of impacted groundwater, sediment and soil environments.
Chromium in water a cancer suspect
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that hexavalent chromium (chromium 6) causes cancer in lab animals when they drink it in water and could be harmful to people, according to The Washington Post. The element has already been shown to cause lung cancer when inhaled and is controlled by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and state agencies. In a two-year study by the NIH’s National Toxicology Program, high doses of chromium 6 given to rats and mice caused malignant tumors.
UV distribution agreement
American Air & Water®, Inc. awarded exclusive Canadian distribution rights of UV disinfection systems to Canadian Air & Water, Inc. in an agreement signed by the two companies, according to openPR. The distributor will market the UV systems under the corporate brand Canadian Air & Water™ as well as the Air Asure™ and Asure Water™ sub-brands. The American company will support the Canadian firm with proprietary knowledge, engineering and formulas for the UV systems as well as proprietary marketing materials, including video, web sites, catalogues, brochures and training information.
Canadian standard published
WQA announced that Canada published the final version of its drinking water treatment systems standard. Issued in March and published in April, Standard B483 (B483.1-07) is available for purchase from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). The guidance covers drinking water treatment systems, including point of use/point of entry (POU/POE) plumbed systems and POU non-plumbed systems, intended to reduce or inactivate harmful substances. The standard comprises the NSF/ANSI standards plus mechanical provisions to bring it in line with requirements of the Canadian Plumbing Code CSA 125/ASME 112 for similar components.
CBWA concerned about Ontario water legislation
The Canadian Bottled Water Association (CBWA) voiced concerns about pending legislation to tax bottlers that use water from the Great Lakes Basin, reported Business Wire. The agency, which supports measures to protect the quality and quantity of Ontario’s water supply, indicated it had a number of serious concerns about the legislation, which leaves 98 percent of the water taken in Ontario unregulated. CBWA noted that its members are among the most efficient users of water and the bill does not address the quality of water that may remain in the watershed but is returned in a much-degraded condition.
Middle East
New water prize announced
A Creativity Prize has been added to the awards available to researchers in the Water Resources sector under the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water 2006-2008. Worth one million Saudi Riyals (about $266,000 US), the prize will be awarded to any original work (research, invention, technique, etc.) that is considered a breakthrough in any water-related field. The work must be practically applicable, economically feasible and environmentally friendly. Four additional prizes will be available for surface and ground water, alternative (non-traditional) water resources and water resources management and protection sub-sectors.
Asia
Philips to enter water market
Royal Philips Electronics has entered India’s water market through its subsidiary, Philips Electronics India Ltd., reported Merinews. The company recently launched its state-of-the-art Intelligent Water Purifier UV purification system. The firm’s Pure Water Care Help Line for sales support is already operational. ‘Experience Centers’ will be established in high-traffic areas where consumers can see, touch, feel and experience the water purifier while a demonstrator informs them about the nearest retail purchase point.
Europe
PSHI expansion announced
PHSI-Pure Water Technology® announced the grand opening of a new European business division, incorporated in Waregem, Belgium under the name PHSI Europe. Pure Water Technology, Purlogix and Interpure product lines will be offered through the new entity. The company also owns and operates a new ISO 9000 facility in South Korea where the three product lines are manufactured. PHSI invests heavily in R&D and product certifications such as NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 58, CE and ETL (EU), Wras and Rohs (UK) and UL.
First Bulgarian water show a success
WATER SOFIA, the first water industry trade show to be held in the Bulgarian capital, received positive reactions from exhibitors and trade visitors alike. A total of 100 companies from 12 countries presented their products and services in the 2,600-square meter display area at the April show. Over 3,000 trade visitors used the opportunity to learn more about efficient methods to modernize drinking water supplies and sewage systems. National water association members presented opinions on future challenges, water contamination and flooding risks and representatives of foreign companies reported on European requirements and technical methods for treatment of water and sewage.