AAF lightens dust load for British Steel
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US Filter acquires Memtec
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through the spray plant a week. Four guns in the electric arc process deposit an aluminium coating on to these structural steel products, but previous dust collectors failed to maintain the required emission standard and extraction flow rate. After several years of development work, first using a wet collector and subsequently a filter bag,
Filtration giant Cuno Inc., recently announced the formation of the Consumer Filter Products Group (CFPG), a worldwide business focused on serving residential, commercial and food service potable water markets. Commenting on the new group, Cuno said the strategy to bring its various potable water businesses around the world under one umbrella, is to expand its international presence in what Cuno sees as a very important growth market. Cuno regard the availability of safe and reliable drinking water as the main driver for these markets, and add that it possesses the technologies, products and experience to be a major global player in this area. The Company said that current worldwide revenue for Cuno technologies and products serving the water market segment represents approximately 25% of total sales, and with the formation of the new group forecasts double-digit compound annual growth rate for the next several years. Curio Inc., 400 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450, USA. Tel: +I 203 237 5541; fax: +I 203 238 8977.
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A dust extraction system from UK-based company AAF Air Pollution Control, has allowed British Steel Tubes and Pipes to comply with rigorous aluminium standards at emission in its Corby plant Northamptonshire. British Steel manufactures street-lighting at its complex, with around 1000 lighting columns passing
British Steel turned to AAF who were able to offer their OptiFlo cartridge filter technology. Importantly, AAF were prepared to guarantee emissions below 5 milligrams per cubic metre and a high velocity in the ductwork, to prevent deposition of the dust. AAF also state that an additional benefit which attracted the Northamptonshire manufacturer, was the low running costs, resulting from being able to operate at a low pressure drop. The system operates with a pre-collector, in the shape of a drop-out box sited adjacent to the exterior installed filter. This removes the tramp material from the dust stream before the aluminium, oxidised aluminium, iron shot and millscale are drawn into the collector at a rate of 30,000 m3/hr. This Opti-Flo model, which was slightly modified to meet the demands of this arduous application, employs the true-downflow AAF design, coupled to powerful pulse cleaning components. It is these features, which allow the dislodged dust, aided by the airflow, to fall freely into the six collection hoppers and onto a central screw conveyor, giving a long life to the 96 anti-static cylindrical cartridges. AAF Ltd, Bassington Lane, Cramlington, Notthumberland, NE23 8AF; UK. Tel: +44 1670 713477; fax: +44 670 714370.
Cuno fork Consumer Filter Products
Australian-based membrane specialist Memtec Ltd has finally accepted an improved US Filter values offer, which Memtec at approximately US$380 million. Perhaps suspecting that its hostile bid for Memtec would be rejected, US Filter twice increased its initial offer price of US$30 per share; first to US$34.50, and then finally to US$36.00 per share, which ultimately proved too much for Memtec’s board to resist. During the hostile takeover bid relations
between the two companies began to sour. Indeed, Memtec publicly denounced US Filter’s offer as “woefully inadequate”, and took a swipe at US Filter Corp., commenting that “Memtec develops technology. US Filter buys it.” However, shortly after accepting the offer, Memtec chairman Denis Hanley seemed contented with the takeover. “US Filter is a good strategic fit for Memtec” commented Hanley, and US Filter chairman, Richard Heckmann remained similarly upbeat,
“This is a great day for the shareholders of both US Filter and Memtec”, and added “We have great respect for Memtec’s assets, its people, and its technology.” Not surprisingly to some observers, immediately after the completion of the acquisition, Heckmann revealed that Denis Hanley had “decided to pursue other interests”. us Filter announced that Andrew Denver, formerly Memtec’s President, is to become President of us Filter’s Memtec Division.
This takeover not only fits in comfortably with US Filters acquisition strategy, but considerably strengthens its global position as the leading provider of solutions to the water industry. In additii;e; Memtec, US Filter’s recent acquisitions include: Wheelabrator Technology Inc., the Process Equipment Division of United Utilities, IWT, Arrowhead and Polymetrics. For further information contact: US Filter Corp., 40-004 Cook Street, Palm Desert, CA 92211, USA. Tel: +I 619 340 0098; fax: +I 619 347 9368.