North America
Pentair/Tyco merger announced
Pentair, Inc. and Tyco International Ltd. announced a definitive agreement to combine Tyco’s Flow Control business with Pentair in a tax-free, all-stock merger.merger. Upon completion of the transaction, unanimously approved by the boards of both companies, Tyco shareholders will own approximately 52.5 percent of the combined company and Pentair shareholders approximately 47.5 percent. It is subject to approval of the planned spin-off by Tyco shareholders, approval of the merger by Pentair shareholders, regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The transaction is structured as a Reverse Morris Trust in which Tyco will complete the spin-off of Tyco Flow to Tyco shareholders, immediately followed by the merger of Pentair into a subsidiary of Tyco Flow. It is expected to be tax-free to both companies as well as to Pentair and Tyco shareholders. The combined company will be incorporated in Switzerland, where Tyco is currently incorporated, with main US offices remaining in Minneapolis, MN, where Pentair is based. Following completion, the new Pentair is expected to have approximately 30,000 employees worldwide with approximately 15,000 coming from Pentair and 15,000 joining from Tyco Flow.
Hague to distribute Russian softener
Hague Quality Water International, (HWQI) announced a distributorship with AQUAPHOR® Corporation of St Petersburg, Russia. HQWI will distribute the AQUAPHOR® RO 100, a bayonet style, water-on-water, five-liter (1.32 gallon) tank RO unit. The successful implementation of the water-on-water approach to RO water treatment reduces the amount of space needed to place the unit by one-third.
Bentley donates software to EWB
Bentley Systems, Incorporated announced that it has donated a selection of 24 software products, including MicroStation and ProjectWise, to Engineers Without Borders – USA (EWB-USA). The products will be available for use by all of EWB-USA’s 12,000 volunteer members – most of whom are university students – to help them design, engineer, and construct essential infrastructure in emerging economies throughout the world. The volunteers will access the software through the company’s STUDENTserver self-service site, which will enable them to download, at no charge, current and future versions of the software, as well as training and technical support. In addition the volunteers will have access to WaterGEMS, WaterCAD, Bentley Map and Structural Modeler, among other offerings. This is the largest donation Bentley has made to EWB-USA in its five-year relationship with the organization.
Follett honored with innovation award
Follett’s new 7 Series ice and water dispenser has been named as a finalist in the Best Innovator category of the 2011 FoodBev.com Awards. The finalists and winners were announced in February. The FoodBev.com Awards were created in order to celebrate “creativity and innovative thinking in all of its forms.” Award categories recognize best new food and drink, best new brands and best innovator. It also recognizes marketing efforts with categories such as best brand redesign, best social media campaign and best website.
Americans want water treatment
Across America there is a growing movement towards installing filters or other household water treatment systems as a replacement for bottled water. This finding emerged from a Probe Research Inc. national survey entitled A Clear Perspective of Americans and their Drinking Water 2012 conducted among 2,000 American consumers in January of this year. Those living in the Southwest and in the New England/Mid-Atlantic regions of the country (35 percent each) were somewhat more likely to concur that it was necessary to treat their household tap water with a filtration device as compared to their more northern neighbors in the Midwest (29 percent). While two-in-five women aged 55 years and over were convinced that the need for treating their tap water has never been more important, their male cohorts in this age bracket were significantly less likely to share this conviction (41 percent versus 27). The perception that home filtered water offers health benefits over bottled water has steadily increased over the past seven years (from 17 percent in 2005 to 34 percent in 2012).
NSF standard required for plastic piping products
All major plumbing codes are now requiring that plastic piping products comply with NSF/ANSI Standard 14: Plastics Piping System Components and Related Materials, including the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), raising the bar on quality for plastic piping products nationwide. The International Plumbing Code, International Residential Code and National Standard Plumbing Code have required compliance with the Standard for many years. The Standard contains physical, performance and quality requirements and also requires ongoing monitoring for plastic piping system components and related materials. It addresses any material used in a plastic piping system, including PVC, CPVC, PE, PEX, ABS, NP, PP, as well as brass, copper, composites and other materials. Additionally, the standard includes criteria for PVC ingredients.
Tulane competition finalists focused on water
Two of six finalists in the 2012 Tulane Business Plan Competition and Domain Companies New Orleans Entrepreneur Challenge focused on water treatment solutions. SODI-CAN (Tulane University of Medicine), a dual-purpose water vessel that stores and disinfects water utilizing solar energy, competed in the 12th Annual Tulane Business Plan Competition, which focuses specifically on conscious capitalism. The company that is determined to have created the best sustainable business model winner will receive $50,000 (USD). The project was developed through the Tulane University School of Medicine’s Medical Science Innovation Competition in 2011 with the purpose of conceptualizing a novel method of providing clean water. Nanofex, University of New Orleans, is a for-profit company that addresses the demand for groundwater treatment by providing a novel, affordable, effective method for remediating hazardous chemicals commonly found in soil and groundwater, competed in the 2nd Annual Domain Companies New Orleans Entrepreneur Challenge, which will award $20,000 to the company that presents the best plan for the creation or expansion of a New Orleans-based business that demonstrates strong growth potential and positive local impact.
IDA task force announced
The International Desalination Association (IDA) announced the formation of a global Energy Task Force whose goal is to achieve a 20-percent reduction in energy consumption in all major seawater desalination processes by 2015. The announcement was made at the 6th World Water Forum held in Marseille, France. IDA presented the Task Force’s goals and commitment to an overflow audience at its session entitled Desalination: The Sustainable Solution and Hope for Future Generations. The Task Force will create a framework to encourage and promote strategies to further enhance energy efficiency in desalination processes, both thermal and membrane. It will be structured to include a network of experts from around the world to share best practices for energy efficiency in desalination. These professionals will represent utilities (end-users), desalination companies (including suppliers and consultants), R&D institutions, academia and IDA’s Technical Programs Committee.