NEWS/DIVIDENDS Bob Miller, vice president of Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems (PAES). “These products will feature prominently in our RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) designs as we help the aquaculture industry reach new heights around the world.” “AquaOptima believes that by working with a prominent player in the aquaculture sector, we will secure further development and the optimal manufacturing process to compete on the international market,” said AquaOptima CEO Idar Schei. AquaOptima will continue to use Eco-Trap, Eco-Flow and oxygen saturators in its design and supply of RAS, and PAES will now promote and sell these products worldwide. Apopka, Florida-headquartered Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc was acquired by Pentair’s Aquatic Systems business in October 2012.
cost for communities and companies, while supplying better quality water. “Our investment in De.mem and GD Wasser meets a strong market need for modern, but cost-efficient de-centralized water treatment technologies in SE Asia,” said Kroell. “The synergies with the know-how of MINT and the leading expertise of NTU in this space provide an excellent basis for further expansion of the business model.” GD Wasser, a joint venture between New Asia Investments Pte Ltd (30%), De.mem Pte Ltd (40%) and Glacier SG Pte Ltd (30%), operates mainly on a Build-OwnOperate (BOO) model providing clean water to its municipal and industrial clients. For further information, visit www.demembranes.com, www.mintmembranes.com, www.ntu.edu.sg, www. newasiainvestments.com and www.gdwasser.com
For further information, visit www.aquaticeco.com, www.pentair.com and www.aquaoptima.com
De.Mem builds its first overseas water treatment plant in Vietnam
N
anyang Technological University (NTU) start-up De.Mem Pte Ltd has launched its first overseas water treatment plant in Vietnam. Located at Duc Hoa, in Long An province near Ho Chi Minh City, the new 120 sq m plant has an output of 1 million litres of drinking water per day. The remote-monitored plant requires just one person to operate, and will be linked wirelessly via an NTU-designed network back to De.Mem’s Singapore office, which will oversee and manage its daily operations. The new plant, a joint venture between De.Mem and Vietnamese company GD Wasser, is backed by Singapore-based investment firm and Nanostart holding New Asia Investments which has invested S$300 000 in De.Mem. De.Mem (Decentralised Membranes), a subsidiary and partner of NTU spin-off company MINT (Membrane Instruments & Technology), uses MINT’s patented membrane integrity sensor technologies developed at NTU’s Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute. Andreas Kroell, partner, New Asia Investments, said that MINT’s new model is very appropriate for developing countries such as Vietnam, as it reduces
May 2013
John Crane relocates HQ to downtown Chicago
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ohn Crane has moved its corporate headquarters to downtown Chicago, from Morton Grove in Illinois, USA. The sealing specialist’s 26-acre North American manufacturing and service centre will remain in Morton Grove. Founded in the Chicagoland area in 1917, today John Crane has more than 230 offices located in over 50 countries worldwide. The company, which is part of the Smiths Group, employs around 7000 people and had 2012 revenues of more than US$1.5 billion. John Crane president and CEO Duncan Gillis said downtown Chicago was a perfect fit for the company to expand its corporate headquarters and recruit professional talent. “It is a diverse and vibrant city attractive to our employees and also our global customers visiting who will have access to our headquarters and nearby North America manufacturing and service centre,” said Gillis. Philip Bowman, CEO of Smiths Group, said: “Although Smiths is a truly global company, our businesses have deep roots in the United States. None more so than John Crane which, from its base near Chicago, has grown to become a world leader in its specialist sector. Establishing its global headquarters in the heart of the city underlines our commitment both to Chicago and the United States.” For further information, visit www.johncrane.com and www.smiths.com
Dividends UÊ Pentair Ltd shareholders have approved a board of directors recommended proposal to distribute an ordinary cash dividend of US$1.00 per share. The payment will be made in four equal quarterly instalments of US$0.25 in each of the third and fourth quarters of 2013 and the first and second quarters of 2014. The dividends will be paid out of Pentair’s capital contribution reserve and represents an increase of US$0.02 per share per quarter over the previous dividend. This is the 37th consecutive year in which Pentair has increased its dividend. Pentair paid dividends of US$0.88 per share in 2012. Last September, the company said that it would pay dividends previously authorized by Pentair’s former sole shareholder of US$0.23 per share out of its capital contribution reserve for each of the first and second quarters of 2013. www.pentair.com UÊ Ê ÃiV`Ê µÕ>ÀÌiÀÊ `Û`i`Ê vÊ US$0.1164 per share will be paid on 19 June 2013 to Xylem Inc shareholders of record on 22 May 2013. www.xyleminc.com UÊ Kaydon Corp’s regular quarterly dividend of US$0.20 per common share will be payable on 28 June 2013 to stockholders of record on 10 June 2013. www.kaydon.com UÊ Cummins Inc will pay a quarterly common stock cash dividend of US$0.50 per share on 3 June 2013 to shareholders of record on 24 May 2013. www.cummins.com UÊ /
iÊ3M board of directors has declared a US$0.635 per share dividend on the company’s common stock for the second quarter of 2013. This will be paid on 12 June 2013 to shareholders of record on 24 May 2013. 3M has paid dividends to its shareholders without interruption for more than 96 years. As of 31 March 2013, 3M had 690 194 620 common shares outstanding and 94 745 shareholders of record. www.3M.com UÊ Sartorius shareholders have approved a dividend of E0.96 per preference share and E0.94 per ordinary share. As a result, Sartorius will pay out E16.2 million, up 17.3% on last year. www.sartorius.de
Filtration Industry Analyst
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