Topway Global Inc. received certification as a partner in the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program to help secure US borders and ensure the continued free flow of international trade. Visit www.cbp.gov for program information. ?
Purolite was recently chosen as Cargill Corn Milling North America’s Supplier of the Year. Over 50 suppliers within Cargill’s chemical category were considered for the award. Purolite was selected on the merit of the company’s outstanding commitment to the success of Cargill’s corn milling operations in North America. ?
AMTROL Inc. emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization cases recently, according to Business Wire. Since the filing in December 2006, the company has continued to operate normally and has experienced no disruptions during the reorganization process. ?
The Board of Directors of General Electric Company authorized a regular quarterly dividend of $0.28 per outstanding share of the company’s common stock. The dividend was payable July 25 to shareowners of record at the close of business on June 25. The ex-dividend date was June 21. ?
Siemens Water Technologies announced the opening of its new Global Water Research and Development Center at PUB’s The WaterHub building in Singapore (see WC&P July). This is the first step toward the previously announced €25 million investment in technology research and product development in the Asia-Pacific region. ?
In response to the elimination of a value added tax (VAT) refund previously granted by the Chinese government on activated carbon exports, Calgon Carbon Corporation announced a global price increase on activated carbon products that it imports from China. The price increase was effective July 1. (See Ken Schaeffer, WC&P July.) ?
North America
Healthway product endorsed by medical group
The Minnesota Chiropractic Association has endorsed and is recommending Healthway Home Products’ FDA-certified Air Purifiers for its members and their patients. Distributed in the midwest by Healthy Home Products of Faribault, the Class II medical devices are manufactured under ISO 9002 standards. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) also certified the purifiers.
WQA news
The Water Quality Association (WQA) website reports exhibition space is being assigned on a first-come, first-served basis for WQA Aquatech USA, March 25-29, 2008 at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. More than one-third of the exhibit hall is already sold out.
Nominations for 2008 WQA Leadership Awards will be accepted through August 10. The eight categories include Hall of Fame; Lifetime Member; Key Award; Regents Award; Ray Cross Award; Award of Merit; International Award of Merit and Honorary Member Award. The awards, their respective criteria and past recipients are listed at the organization’s website. Visit www.wqa.org/awards to learn more about each and submit a nomination form.
Charity water needs supported by Culligan
Culligan of Phoenix donated 10,000 bottles of drinking water to the Salvation Army for its First Annual 2007 Bottled Water Drive, held in June. The charity is unable to meet a growing demand for water for those in need during the hot summer months. The company is urging area neighbors and businesses to donate much-needed bottled drinking water. Donations may be dropped off at The Salvation Army, 2707 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, Ariz. or call Culligan at (602) 264-3111 and make water donations – the company will deliver the water to the charity for you.
Engineering society adds programs
The 57-year old Junior Engineering and Technology Society (JETS) revamped its look and engineering message. New national competitions, website updates, interactive learning tools, more expansive and inclusive programs and the Society’s newsletter are designed to help students see that “Engineers Make a World of Difference”. New initiatives for JETS 2007-08 will be launched in September. Visit www.jets.org for more information.
IBWA news
The 2007 International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) Convention and Tabletop Trade Show to be held at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nev. from October 15–19 will be co-located with PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2007. IBWA attendees will be allowed to visit PACK EXPO free of charge. IBWA’s educational program has been expanded and includes the opportunity for members to earn up to 20.5 continuing education units (CEUs) at the event. Visit www.bottledwater.org/public/conv2007/ or call (703) 647-4606 for more information.
During IBWA’s June Board of Directors meeting, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection David Acheson, M.D. praised the leadership of IBWA for its early voluntary development and implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach to food safety and for leading the food industry in the implementation of the ‘CARVER + Shock’ protocol used to assess and remediate safety vulnerabilities from source to point-of-sale.
Pool agreement announced
The International Pool & Spa Expo|Backyard Living Expo (IPSE|BLE) recently updated its agreement with the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) as an official show sponsor. Under the terms of the agreement (that runs through 2046), APSP will continue to receive top billing as the Expo’s sponsor and will have heightened exposure. The annual show, to be held November 28-30 in Orlando, Fla., will feature former NFL quarterback Archie Manning as keynote speaker
B&V supports youth water projects
Black & Veatch hosted ‘Learn-in Day’ for the Kansas City (Mo.) Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew that included interactive sessions on building rain gardens and water engineering. The company awarded $500 scholarships to each of the six 16- to 18-year-olds taking part in the event who completed the YCC program this summer. The program, co-sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Full Employment Council, provides summer projects for inner city and minority youth that stress the importance of environmental conservation and research.
Aqua Show 2007 online registration
Hanley Wood, owner and producer of AQUA Show 2007, announced online registration is available for the event to be held November 14-16, 2007 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev. To book housing, or for information on exhibiting or attending, visit www.AQUAshow.com or call (800) 766-7807 or (972) 536-6325. To focus on challenges facing the industry, 47 seminars are scheduled; 38 are completely new educational offerings.
Video resume service for employers
The US Department of Labor (DOL) selected HireMeNow.com as a replacement for America’s Job Bank (AJB), which was closed July 1. The new website offers free video resume hosting for job seekers and free job posting for employers. DOL came to the conclusion that while AJB is one of the biggest and busiest job markets in cyberspace, the benefits no longer outweigh the costs of operating and maintaining this system, as the market has evolved to the point where a Federally sponsored electronic labor exchange is no longer necessary.
HydroFlo distribution agreement
HydroFlo, Inc. announced an agreement with Virginia-based Ganga Enviro Systems, Inc. for exclusive distribution rights of its SteriPure™ line of ultraviolet (UV) point of use (POU) purification systems throughout the US, Canada and other selected regions. The system was formally introduced at Aquatech USA 2007 in Orlando, Fla., Marketwire reported.
Canned drinking water
Anheuser-Busch pre-staged 12,850 cases of canned drinking water in Florida to enable relief agencies to immediate water delivery by relief agencies should a hurricane strike the southeast US and areas around the Gulf of Mexico. According to PRNewswire, shipments were delivered to the company’s local wholesalers in Daytona Beach, Sanford and Jacksonville. In addition, Jacksonville Brewery and Houston Brewery received 4,300 and 2,150 cases, respectively.
Toilet water cleaner than drinking fountains?
The Seattle Times reported that Kyleray Katherman, a 13-year old student attending Oregon Coast Technology School at North Bend Middle School, tested for bacterial content at four water fountains and one toilet to challenge a ban on students’ bringing bottled water to class. The samples from the fountains were swarming with bacteria; the sample from the toilet was clean, probably due to daily cleansing with chemicals. When Katherman presented his results to the school board, administrators quickly replaced spigots and casings at three of the water fountains. The bottled water ban, however, remains in effect.
Aqua-Chem awarded Navy contract
Aqua-Chem Inc. was awarded a five-year, $26.1 million US Navy contract for its reverse osmosis (RO) desalination systems, according to The News Sentinel. The company will design and manufacture 36 units for the Navy, including units for Whidbey Island Class ships, which can deploy US Marines on landing crafts, repair and fuel other boats and carry helicopters. Guided missile frigates are also in line for the upgrade.
Honeywell flow meters announced
Honeywell is launching a new line of high-performance flow meters, reported Business Wire. The VersaFlow™ line, featuring Electromagnetic, Coriolis, Ultrasonic and Vortex flow meters, debuted at the Honeywell Users Group Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. Krohne will manufacture the flow meters to Honeywell’s standards for quality, performance and reliability. They will be distributed and supported on a global basis through Honeywell’s existing sales and distribution organization.
Europe
Stockholm award winner announced
National water agency PUB Singapore, charged with water, wastewater and stormwater management in the city-state, earned the 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award, to be presented August 15 during World Water Week in Stockholm. The public agency serves about 4.5 million people and a number of major industries with intensive water use. PUB’s holistic approach to water resources management has resulted in a lower dependence on external water sources by diversification of its own sources. (See WC&P July.) Nominations for the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize are being accepted now and should be submitted before September 30. Email [email protected] for additional information.
Quay acquired by Severn Trent
Severn Trent Services announced its acquisition of Quay Technologies Ltd. of Berks (UK), manufacturers of a proprietary ultraviolet (UV) technology for use in water and wastewater disinfection. Quay Technologies’ patented microwave-powered UV systems offer improved reliability and bulb life, resulting in lower overall operating costs. The UV systems will be offered under the MicroDynamics™ brand name.
AgION /BASF partnership formed
AgION Technologies Inc. announced a multi-year, exclusive partnership with BASF AG (Germany) to develop and commercialize styrene copolymers that feature Agion’s antimicrobial technology. Initially focused on the European market, a global rollout is envisioned in the near future, according to BusinessWire. The technology has been approved for food and water contact by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and European Food Safety Association (EFSA). It is listed as an indirect food contact substance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a notified existing substance under Directive 98/8/EC in the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).
Middle East
GE selected for projects
Palm Water selected GE Water & Process Technologies as the preferred provider of water and wastewater technology, long-term operations and maintenance for the $550 million (Dh 2 billion) Palm Water-Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) Utility Project. The company will supply the project’s soon-to-be-named engineering, procurement and construction contractor with design, engineering and advanced water and wastewater technologies. GE will also supply water treatment technologies, seawater desalination reverse osmosis (SWRO), ZeeWeed membrane bioreactor (MBR) and polishing treatment for Palm Water’s three major Jafza facilities.
GET Water, a partnership with Saudi Arabia-based Al Tamimi Group, will bring a fleet of GE Mobile Water Treatment Systems to the region. The seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis (RO) systems, ultrafiltration (UF), multi-media pretreatment and clean-in-place (CIP) systems will supply the marketplace with on-site, drought-proof supplies of water, water reuse, wastewater management and emergency water response capabilities. The partnership will also bring expedited customer response times to the region.
Africa
Water for People awarded grant
Water For People was awarded a Development Marketplace maximum grant of $200,000 for an innovative sanitation project in Malawi designed to reduce diarrhea by 40 percent by improving sanitation practices and facilities. The winning proposal was one of 104 finalists selected from more than 2,900 applications; only 22 awards were granted this year. The global grants, financed by the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, range from $50,000 to $200,000.
Asia
Membrana product used for circuit boards
A plant in Asia that manufactures flexible printed circuit boards is using Membrana’s Liqui-Cel® Membrane Contactors to remove bubbles that can cause uneven plating or plating voids from a plating solution used to process the circuit boards, resulting in lower yields. Test results using an aqueous-based solution containing 10 percent sulfuric acid clearly show a marked reduction in defects. The improved yields quickly prompted the plant to retrofit all production lines with membrane contactors.
Singapore news
The International Water Association (IWA) announced the opening of its regional office in Singapore’s WaterHub, offering meeting and working spaces to better serve association members. It will also be the Asian hub for coordinating IWA outreach programs and knowledge exchange activities, enable the association to connect more effectively with the Asian water community and assist in the development of sustainable regional water management.
The inaugural winner of the Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Water Prize, an international award given annually to recognize an individual or organization for outstanding contributions, will be announced in March 2008. Named for Singapore’s founding father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the prize laureate will be presented with an award certificate, a gold medallion and S$300,000 ($194,527 US).
China tour announced
The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) and Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA) have partnered with SEYI Presses, Inc. to offer an exclusive opportunity to tour stamping facilities in China, Sept. 21 – Oct. 2. For a complete itinerary, visit www.fmanet.org/china. Contact Ginger Baerenwald at (815) 227-8219 or [email protected] for more information and to make reservations. Space is limited.