- Email: [email protected]
Sulzer Wood expands Ellon facility
IN BRIEF/NEWS
In Brief • The Hydraulic Institute (HI), under the approval of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is looking for qualified individuals to participate in the review process of a newly completed standard for Rotary Pumps for Types and Nomenclature. This standard applies to industrial/commercial rotary positive displacement pumps. It includes types and nomenclature; definitions; design and application; and installation, operation, and maintenance. It does not include standards on magnetic drives for sealless pumps nor rotary pumps primarily used for fluid power applications. The HI is currently assembling a canvass list of all interested parties who wish to review the drafts and will submit the list to ANSI. To participate in the ANSI/HI canvass, please contact Karen Anderson, administrator, technical affairs at [email protected]. www.pumps.org • Flowserve Corp and Wood Group Light Industrial Turbines Division have announced a cooperative agreement to establish a compressor dry gas seal retrofit program. This agreement will provide for a wide range of compressor overhaul and mechanical seal upgrade solutions to the oil and gas marketplace. www.flowserve.com www.woodgroup.com • Metso is looking to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and terminate its reporting obligations under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as substantially all of the trading of Metso shares occurs outside of the USA. Metso’s ordinary shares will continue to trade on the Helsinki Stock Exchange (see Stock Watch, page 15). www.metso.com • Weir Minerals China Co Ltd has officially opened its new facility in Suxhou, China. www.weirminerals.com • Curtiss-Wright Corp has entered into an agreement with a group of eight banks establishing a US$425 million credit facility with an accordion feature to expand to US$600 million. The company plans to use the credit line for working capital purposes, internal growth initiatives, funding of possible future acquisitions and other general corporate purposes. www.curtisswright.com 12
Pump Industry Analyst
Dover announces new structure
D
over Corp has realigned its operating companies into four business segments highlighting broad end markets served: Industrial Products; Engineered Systems; Fluid Management and Electronic Technologies. Fluid Management, which had latest 12month revenues of US$1.4 billion, includes Energy and Fluid Solutions. Fluid Solutions includes Blackmer, Colder Products, Hydro Systems, OPW and Wilden. Ronald Hoffman, Dover’s president and CEO, said that the new structure is the logical extension of the strategic portfolio review the company initiated in 2005 and accomplishes several important objectives. “First, it groups our companies into four more defined market segments. Second, this structure enhances the sharing of best practices as well as identifying and capturing synergy opportunities. Third, it provides increased direction for our acquisition program, focusing on the segment end markets. Fourth, it creates additional leadership opportunities to develop the executive talent needed to drive Dover’s future progress. Last, it provides shareholders and the financial community with greater clarity, simplicity and insight into the strategic business segments and operating platforms of Dover,” said Hoffman. The realignment will be effective for Dover Corp’s third quarter 2007 financial results. For further information, visit www.dovercorporation. com
Textron fined in UN oil-for-food investigation
T
extron Inc has agreed to a US$1.15 million fine for the payment of US$600 000 in kickbacks under the United Nations Oil for Food Program. Textron has acknowledged responsibility for the actions of three David Brown French subsidiaries, whose employees and agents made improper payments to the Iraqi government
in order to obtain contracts with Iraqi ministries to provide industrial pumps, gears and other equipment. According to an agreement between the US Department of Justice and Textron, between 2000 and 2003, the three French subsidiaries paid US$600 000 to the Iraqi government by secretly inflating the price of contracts by 10% before submitting the contracts to the United Nations for approval. The Department of Justice has agreed not to file criminal charges against Textron or its subsidiaries in recognition of Textron’s early discovery and reporting of the improper payments; Textron’s thorough review of those payments as well as its discovery and review of improper payments made in other countries, including India, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates; and the company’s implementation of enhanced compliance policies and procedures. In a related SEC civil injunctive action, Textron also agreed to pay approximately US$3.5 million in disgorgement and civil penalties. For further information, visit www.textron.com
Sulzer Wood expands Ellon facility
S
ulzer Wood Ltd, a joint venture between Sulzer Pumps and John Wood Group plc, has increased the size of its pump and compressor service facility in Ellon, Scotland from 25 000 sq ft to 60 000 sq ft to provide enhanced levels of service for clients in the North Sea oil & gas industry. The improved capacity has enabled Sulzer Wood to introduce a complete restructuring of the facility layout in conjunction with process improvements, with the aim of reducing turn times for customers. The company has also relocated its inventory management activities into the Ellon facility from an offsite location, which comprises £35 million worth of customer-owned stock stored in support of long term contracts with major UKCS operators. Sulzer Wood has increased its workforce from 70 to 80 over the last 12 months, and expects to create an additional 10 new positions by the end of 2007. “We have consolidated our entire operations under one roof to deliver faster, better quality and more
September 2007
NEWS/IN BRIEF cost-effective service solutions for our customers. Over the past three years our business has grown by almost 30%, and the recent expansion of our workshop capacity and workforce of highly skilled personnel will ensure that we continue to support an increasing demand for our services,” said Steve Miller, general manager of Sulzer Wood. For further information, visit www.sulzerpumps.com and www.woodgroup.com
Grundfos robots honoured
T
he Danish Industrial Robot Association’s 2007 DIRA Award has gone to Grundfos A/S, the Danish production company. Grundfos A/S managing director Lars Aagaard, received the award. “During the latest four years Mr Aagaard has been manager of more than 4000 employees, and significant results has been obtained through optimization of interdisciplinary processes, competent employee involvement and implication of supplier competences. The productivity rise during these four years has been 30%, and the current productivity rise that Grundfos obtains is exemplary,” DIRA said. “Being the largest production company of the group we must ensure our own competitiveness and at the same time contribute substantially to the competitiveness of the whole group. The strategic aiming at robot technology has certainly strengthened Grundfos A/S, when we consider the important competitive parameters such as prices, productivity, quality, delivery times and performance and flexibility,” Aagaard added. For further information, visit www.grundfos.com
Flowserve buys UK sealing company
F
lowserve Corp has acquired Middlesbrough, UK-based MF Sealing Systems.
September 2007
Flowserve says the move is designed to strengthen a long-standing alliance between the two companies for pump and seal sales and maintenance, and should further enhance Flowserve’s operations in the UK pump and mechanical seal markets. “Acquiring MF Sealing helps allow us to quickly and effectively meet our strategic customer and end-user objectives in the Teesside region of the UK,” said Tom Ferguson, president of Flowserve Pump Division. “With our newly acquired Teesside facility as our primary Flowserve establishment in this area, we will now be better positioned to locally serve the pump and mechanical seal needs of the global corporations with British operations in the petrochemical and industrial markets.” “The cornerstone of our ‘end-user strategy’ is to be able to provide the best pump and seal service available, geographically near our customers and end-users around the world. This MF acquisition provides us with a platform for further enhancing those end-user alliances in the UK.” MF founder Ian Watson intends to stay on board as service manager in the new operation, and will help guide the staff in Teesside during the transition. MF Sealing Systems recently invested in a new 22 400 sq ft workshop and office space. For further information, visit www.flowserve.com
Pumps contribute to Gévelot growth
G
évelot SA, parent company of PCM, saw first half 2007 consolidated sales turnover increase 6.7%. The Pumps sector achieved growth in the industrial, food and petroleum markets, with sales increasing 16.6% to 35.7 million. At the end of June 2007, the group’s operating income was up, reflecting in part the continued progress in the Pumps sector. Group net profit for the first half of 2007 was 5.4 million, up from 2.9 million at the mid-point last year.
In Brief • Italy’s DAB Pumps SpA has acquired the electronic system controls company WaCS Systems srl. WaCS Systems will continue to operate as an independent company within the DAB group, headed up by WaCS founder Fabiano Puccioni. However WaCS’s specialist electronics R&D team and electronics device production will integrate within DAB Pumps. www.dabpumps.com • Kirloskar Brothers Ltd has bought India’s Gondwana Engineers Pvt Ltd (GEPL) for Rs76.4 million. Founded in 1982 by SD Shangarpawar, GEPL specialises in water, sewage and effluent treatment plants. http://web.kbl.co.in • Flowserve Corp has opened the Flow Control Engineering Center (FCEC), a new research and development facility located in Bangalore, India. The FCEC joins similar Flowserve facilities in India for pumps and seals in Chennai and Bangalore. The FCEC provides dedicated support for product and technology development projects from conceptualization through final drawings and pre-production prototypes. It provides engineering support for bill of materials (BOM) generation, customer assembly drawings and automated drafting. www.flowserve.com • EMEC has celebrated 25 years as a solenoid pump and controller manufacturer, with a gala event in Reiti, Italy for 350 people, including employees, their families and company representatives. Founded in 1982, EMEC’s portfolio now has more than 63 pumps, 42 controllers and 10 communication modem/router variations. www.emec.it • ITT Corp has closed the acquisition of International Motion Control (IMC), the Buffalo, New York-based manufacturer of motion control products (see Pump Industry Analyst, July 2007). www.itt.com
For further information, visit www.gevelot-sa.com
Pump Industry Analyst
13
In Brief • The Hydraulic Institute (HI), under the approval of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), is looking for qualified individuals to participate in the review process of a newly completed standard for Rotary Pumps for Types and Nomenclature. This standard applies to industrial/commercial rotary positive displacement pumps. It includes types and nomenclature; definitions; design and application; and installation, operation, and maintenance. It does not include standards on magnetic drives for sealless pumps nor rotary pumps primarily used for fluid power applications. The HI is currently assembling a canvass list of all interested parties who wish to review the drafts and will submit the list to ANSI. To participate in the ANSI/HI canvass, please contact Karen Anderson, administrator, technical affairs at [email protected]. www.pumps.org • Flowserve Corp and Wood Group Light Industrial Turbines Division have announced a cooperative agreement to establish a compressor dry gas seal retrofit program. This agreement will provide for a wide range of compressor overhaul and mechanical seal upgrade solutions to the oil and gas marketplace. www.flowserve.com www.woodgroup.com • Metso is looking to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and terminate its reporting obligations under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as substantially all of the trading of Metso shares occurs outside of the USA. Metso’s ordinary shares will continue to trade on the Helsinki Stock Exchange (see Stock Watch, page 15). www.metso.com • Weir Minerals China Co Ltd has officially opened its new facility in Suxhou, China. www.weirminerals.com • Curtiss-Wright Corp has entered into an agreement with a group of eight banks establishing a US$425 million credit facility with an accordion feature to expand to US$600 million. The company plans to use the credit line for working capital purposes, internal growth initiatives, funding of possible future acquisitions and other general corporate purposes. www.curtisswright.com 12
Pump Industry Analyst
Dover announces new structure
D
over Corp has realigned its operating companies into four business segments highlighting broad end markets served: Industrial Products; Engineered Systems; Fluid Management and Electronic Technologies. Fluid Management, which had latest 12month revenues of US$1.4 billion, includes Energy and Fluid Solutions. Fluid Solutions includes Blackmer, Colder Products, Hydro Systems, OPW and Wilden. Ronald Hoffman, Dover’s president and CEO, said that the new structure is the logical extension of the strategic portfolio review the company initiated in 2005 and accomplishes several important objectives. “First, it groups our companies into four more defined market segments. Second, this structure enhances the sharing of best practices as well as identifying and capturing synergy opportunities. Third, it provides increased direction for our acquisition program, focusing on the segment end markets. Fourth, it creates additional leadership opportunities to develop the executive talent needed to drive Dover’s future progress. Last, it provides shareholders and the financial community with greater clarity, simplicity and insight into the strategic business segments and operating platforms of Dover,” said Hoffman. The realignment will be effective for Dover Corp’s third quarter 2007 financial results. For further information, visit www.dovercorporation. com
Textron fined in UN oil-for-food investigation
T
extron Inc has agreed to a US$1.15 million fine for the payment of US$600 000 in kickbacks under the United Nations Oil for Food Program. Textron has acknowledged responsibility for the actions of three David Brown French subsidiaries, whose employees and agents made improper payments to the Iraqi government
in order to obtain contracts with Iraqi ministries to provide industrial pumps, gears and other equipment. According to an agreement between the US Department of Justice and Textron, between 2000 and 2003, the three French subsidiaries paid US$600 000 to the Iraqi government by secretly inflating the price of contracts by 10% before submitting the contracts to the United Nations for approval. The Department of Justice has agreed not to file criminal charges against Textron or its subsidiaries in recognition of Textron’s early discovery and reporting of the improper payments; Textron’s thorough review of those payments as well as its discovery and review of improper payments made in other countries, including India, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates; and the company’s implementation of enhanced compliance policies and procedures. In a related SEC civil injunctive action, Textron also agreed to pay approximately US$3.5 million in disgorgement and civil penalties. For further information, visit www.textron.com
Sulzer Wood expands Ellon facility
S
ulzer Wood Ltd, a joint venture between Sulzer Pumps and John Wood Group plc, has increased the size of its pump and compressor service facility in Ellon, Scotland from 25 000 sq ft to 60 000 sq ft to provide enhanced levels of service for clients in the North Sea oil & gas industry. The improved capacity has enabled Sulzer Wood to introduce a complete restructuring of the facility layout in conjunction with process improvements, with the aim of reducing turn times for customers. The company has also relocated its inventory management activities into the Ellon facility from an offsite location, which comprises £35 million worth of customer-owned stock stored in support of long term contracts with major UKCS operators. Sulzer Wood has increased its workforce from 70 to 80 over the last 12 months, and expects to create an additional 10 new positions by the end of 2007. “We have consolidated our entire operations under one roof to deliver faster, better quality and more
September 2007
NEWS/IN BRIEF cost-effective service solutions for our customers. Over the past three years our business has grown by almost 30%, and the recent expansion of our workshop capacity and workforce of highly skilled personnel will ensure that we continue to support an increasing demand for our services,” said Steve Miller, general manager of Sulzer Wood. For further information, visit www.sulzerpumps.com and www.woodgroup.com
Grundfos robots honoured
T
he Danish Industrial Robot Association’s 2007 DIRA Award has gone to Grundfos A/S, the Danish production company. Grundfos A/S managing director Lars Aagaard, received the award. “During the latest four years Mr Aagaard has been manager of more than 4000 employees, and significant results has been obtained through optimization of interdisciplinary processes, competent employee involvement and implication of supplier competences. The productivity rise during these four years has been 30%, and the current productivity rise that Grundfos obtains is exemplary,” DIRA said. “Being the largest production company of the group we must ensure our own competitiveness and at the same time contribute substantially to the competitiveness of the whole group. The strategic aiming at robot technology has certainly strengthened Grundfos A/S, when we consider the important competitive parameters such as prices, productivity, quality, delivery times and performance and flexibility,” Aagaard added. For further information, visit www.grundfos.com
Flowserve buys UK sealing company
F
lowserve Corp has acquired Middlesbrough, UK-based MF Sealing Systems.
September 2007
Flowserve says the move is designed to strengthen a long-standing alliance between the two companies for pump and seal sales and maintenance, and should further enhance Flowserve’s operations in the UK pump and mechanical seal markets. “Acquiring MF Sealing helps allow us to quickly and effectively meet our strategic customer and end-user objectives in the Teesside region of the UK,” said Tom Ferguson, president of Flowserve Pump Division. “With our newly acquired Teesside facility as our primary Flowserve establishment in this area, we will now be better positioned to locally serve the pump and mechanical seal needs of the global corporations with British operations in the petrochemical and industrial markets.” “The cornerstone of our ‘end-user strategy’ is to be able to provide the best pump and seal service available, geographically near our customers and end-users around the world. This MF acquisition provides us with a platform for further enhancing those end-user alliances in the UK.” MF founder Ian Watson intends to stay on board as service manager in the new operation, and will help guide the staff in Teesside during the transition. MF Sealing Systems recently invested in a new 22 400 sq ft workshop and office space. For further information, visit www.flowserve.com
Pumps contribute to Gévelot growth
G
évelot SA, parent company of PCM, saw first half 2007 consolidated sales turnover increase 6.7%. The Pumps sector achieved growth in the industrial, food and petroleum markets, with sales increasing 16.6% to 35.7 million. At the end of June 2007, the group’s operating income was up, reflecting in part the continued progress in the Pumps sector. Group net profit for the first half of 2007 was 5.4 million, up from 2.9 million at the mid-point last year.
In Brief • Italy’s DAB Pumps SpA has acquired the electronic system controls company WaCS Systems srl. WaCS Systems will continue to operate as an independent company within the DAB group, headed up by WaCS founder Fabiano Puccioni. However WaCS’s specialist electronics R&D team and electronics device production will integrate within DAB Pumps. www.dabpumps.com • Kirloskar Brothers Ltd has bought India’s Gondwana Engineers Pvt Ltd (GEPL) for Rs76.4 million. Founded in 1982 by SD Shangarpawar, GEPL specialises in water, sewage and effluent treatment plants. http://web.kbl.co.in • Flowserve Corp has opened the Flow Control Engineering Center (FCEC), a new research and development facility located in Bangalore, India. The FCEC joins similar Flowserve facilities in India for pumps and seals in Chennai and Bangalore. The FCEC provides dedicated support for product and technology development projects from conceptualization through final drawings and pre-production prototypes. It provides engineering support for bill of materials (BOM) generation, customer assembly drawings and automated drafting. www.flowserve.com • EMEC has celebrated 25 years as a solenoid pump and controller manufacturer, with a gala event in Reiti, Italy for 350 people, including employees, their families and company representatives. Founded in 1982, EMEC’s portfolio now has more than 63 pumps, 42 controllers and 10 communication modem/router variations. www.emec.it • ITT Corp has closed the acquisition of International Motion Control (IMC), the Buffalo, New York-based manufacturer of motion control products (see Pump Industry Analyst, July 2007). www.itt.com
For further information, visit www.gevelot-sa.com
Pump Industry Analyst
13