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Kubota invests in North American Ramp;D base
NEWS/IN BRIEF “As business leaders, we are accustomed to seeking out innovative ideas to drive progress. Working together, we will bring a pragmatic approach to identifying new ways to finance all types of critical infrastructure,” said Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. The Executive Council on Infrastructure includes leaders from McGraw Hill Financial, American Water, FedEx Freight, KPMG, Meridiam, CalSTRS, American Air Liquide Holdings, and Siebert Brandford Shank. It will be co-chaired by Douglas Peterson, president and CEO of McGraw Hill Financial, and Susan Story, president and CEO of American Water and a BPC board member.
This will be the company’s first research and development base for water and the environment outside of Japan. The new US$2.5 million facility is designed to strengthen Kubota’s water treatment technology, especially MBR treatment systems. Kubota will establish the R&D base within the grounds of a sewage treatment plant in Canton. In 2013, Kubota received an order to supply MBR membrane separation equipment for the 159 000 m3/day facility. Construction is expected to be completed in September 2015 and the Kubota Water & Environment R&D Center USA should open in December 2015. It will employ three people from April 2016.
For further information, visit www.xyleminc.com
For further information, visit www.kubota.co.jp and www.kubota-membrane.com
Layne Christensen to divest Geoconstruction United Rentals extends Pump Solutions business network
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ayne Christensen Co has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Geoconstruction business segment to a subsidiary of the Keller Group plc. Michael Caliel, Layne Christensen’s president and CEO said: “The sale of Geoconstruction is consistent with our developing strategy to reshape our operating portfolio and concentrate on Layne’s core competencies.” Layne expects to use the net proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes and to pursue selective growth opportunities in its core businesses. For further information, visit www.layne.com
Kubota invests in North American R&D base
J
apan’s Kubota Corp is to set up a water and environment R&D centre in Canton, Ohio, USA.
May 2015
U
nited Rentals Inc has expanded its specialty branch network with the addition of United Rentals Pump Solutions branches in Atlanta, Georgia; Carlsbad, New Mexico; Elmwood Park, New Jersey; and Hayward, California, USA; and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. The new branches will provide fluid transfer solutions for industrial and commercial applications ranging from high volume and high pressure pumps to small, portable units, including custom fabrication. Paul McDonnell, senior vice president – specialty operations at United Rentals, said: “The role of our specialty rental network continues to grow in importance within our company-wide strategy for growth and profitability. Throughout 2015, we will continue to expand our footprints for pump solutions, tool solutions, power and HVAC and trench safety to meet demand for these services.”
In Brief • To commemorate Dover Corp’s 60th anniversary as a publicly traded company, executives and board members rang the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on 7 May 2015. Dover’s pump interests include PSG, Finder, Maag and Dover Artificial Lift. www.dovercorporation.com • Xylem Inc’s Saajhi Stepping Pump won silver in the Agricultural Enhancements category of the recent Edison Awards. The awards, inspired by Thomas Edison, recognize innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy. The Saajhi Stepping Pump was developed in 2013 through Xylem’s Essence of Life initiative. It uses human weight and motion to move water and was designed to help smallholder farmers in rural areas to irrigate their land more efficiently. “This award is a testament to our mission and commitment to improve agriculture for smallholder farmers, facilitate sustainable rural enterprise and elevate quality of life in these communities,” said Keith Teichmann, director of innovative networks and marketing at Xylem. www.xyleminc.com and www. edisonawards.com • The IDEX Foundation is providing a US$25 000 grant to Lane Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to fund the creation of the school’s first “Maker’s Lab.” The lab is an extension of Lane’s STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), a program designed to prepare students for post-secondary endeavours in college and career settings. IDEX will also launch an official mentoring program with Lane. “We want this to be a longterm partnership,” said the IDEX Foundation president Art Laszlo. “Sharing the time and talent of our employees is part of our values and the IDEX culture.” www.idexcorp.com
For further information, visit www.unitedrentals.com
Pump Industry Analyst
13
This will be the company’s first research and development base for water and the environment outside of Japan. The new US$2.5 million facility is designed to strengthen Kubota’s water treatment technology, especially MBR treatment systems. Kubota will establish the R&D base within the grounds of a sewage treatment plant in Canton. In 2013, Kubota received an order to supply MBR membrane separation equipment for the 159 000 m3/day facility. Construction is expected to be completed in September 2015 and the Kubota Water & Environment R&D Center USA should open in December 2015. It will employ three people from April 2016.
For further information, visit www.xyleminc.com
For further information, visit www.kubota.co.jp and www.kubota-membrane.com
Layne Christensen to divest Geoconstruction United Rentals extends Pump Solutions business network
L
ayne Christensen Co has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Geoconstruction business segment to a subsidiary of the Keller Group plc. Michael Caliel, Layne Christensen’s president and CEO said: “The sale of Geoconstruction is consistent with our developing strategy to reshape our operating portfolio and concentrate on Layne’s core competencies.” Layne expects to use the net proceeds from the sale for general corporate purposes and to pursue selective growth opportunities in its core businesses. For further information, visit www.layne.com
Kubota invests in North American R&D base
J
apan’s Kubota Corp is to set up a water and environment R&D centre in Canton, Ohio, USA.
May 2015
U
nited Rentals Inc has expanded its specialty branch network with the addition of United Rentals Pump Solutions branches in Atlanta, Georgia; Carlsbad, New Mexico; Elmwood Park, New Jersey; and Hayward, California, USA; and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. The new branches will provide fluid transfer solutions for industrial and commercial applications ranging from high volume and high pressure pumps to small, portable units, including custom fabrication. Paul McDonnell, senior vice president – specialty operations at United Rentals, said: “The role of our specialty rental network continues to grow in importance within our company-wide strategy for growth and profitability. Throughout 2015, we will continue to expand our footprints for pump solutions, tool solutions, power and HVAC and trench safety to meet demand for these services.”
In Brief • To commemorate Dover Corp’s 60th anniversary as a publicly traded company, executives and board members rang the Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on 7 May 2015. Dover’s pump interests include PSG, Finder, Maag and Dover Artificial Lift. www.dovercorporation.com • Xylem Inc’s Saajhi Stepping Pump won silver in the Agricultural Enhancements category of the recent Edison Awards. The awards, inspired by Thomas Edison, recognize innovation, creativity and ingenuity in the global economy. The Saajhi Stepping Pump was developed in 2013 through Xylem’s Essence of Life initiative. It uses human weight and motion to move water and was designed to help smallholder farmers in rural areas to irrigate their land more efficiently. “This award is a testament to our mission and commitment to improve agriculture for smallholder farmers, facilitate sustainable rural enterprise and elevate quality of life in these communities,” said Keith Teichmann, director of innovative networks and marketing at Xylem. www.xyleminc.com and www. edisonawards.com • The IDEX Foundation is providing a US$25 000 grant to Lane Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to fund the creation of the school’s first “Maker’s Lab.” The lab is an extension of Lane’s STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), a program designed to prepare students for post-secondary endeavours in college and career settings. IDEX will also launch an official mentoring program with Lane. “We want this to be a longterm partnership,” said the IDEX Foundation president Art Laszlo. “Sharing the time and talent of our employees is part of our values and the IDEX culture.” www.idexcorp.com
For further information, visit www.unitedrentals.com
Pump Industry Analyst
13