- Email: [email protected]
Xylem reports improved second-quarter earnings
NEWS/IN BRIEF and positively impact the role of beer in society. Brewing beer is water-intensive, and we are committed to increase sustainability and use less water, which is a precious resource. We are honoured that GE has recognised us for an Ecomagination award.’ SCC has some groundwater available at the site, but it was not enough to meet the needs of the brewery. The other option was to use extremely expensive city water. In addition, Portugal is at a high risk of water scarcity. By using GE’s low-fouling reverse osmosis membranes and advanced chemistry technology SCC was able to improve tertiary water treatment performance, reducing shutdowns by five times, and also contributing to cost-savings. ‘In recognition of SCC’s sustainability initiative and its commitment to reuse water and reduce both its fresh-water consumption and wastewater discharge, we are pleased to present it with the GE Ecomagination award,’ said Ralph Hadley, regional executive for Europe and Russia, GE Water & Process Technologies. ‘Reusing water can go a long way to prevent water scarcity. By using GE’s water treatment membranes, chemistry technologies and technical expertise we can help meet current and future water shortage challenges.’ Contacts: GE Power & Water, 1 River Road, Building 2-135D, Schenectady, NY 12345, USA. Tel: +1 518 385 2211, www.gepower.com GE Water & Process Technologies, 4636 Somerton Road, Trevose, PA 19053-6783, USA. Tel: +1 215 355 3300, www.gewater.com
Xylem reports improved secondquarter earnings
G
lobal water technology company Xylem Inc has posted strong results for its second quarter of fiscal 2014. The firm announced second-quarter 2014 net income of US$86 million. Excluding the impact of restructuring and realignment costs and special tax items, adjusted net income was US$88 million or US$0.48 per share – up 12 cents or 33% from the comparable period in 2013. Second-quarter revenue totalled US$1 billion, which represents a 4% rise organically, reflecting continued strength in emerging markets and modest growth in the USA and Europe, says the firm. The second-quarter adjusted operating margin improved 220 basis points, driven by increased volume, realisation
September 2014
of operating efficiencies and execution of ongoing initiatives to reduce costs. Commenting on the results, Patrick Decker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Xylem, said: ‘I am proud of our teams and what we achieved this quarter. Our organic revenue performance was strong and orders reached a record high. We are on track to deliver our full-year commitments for 2014, as well as building our backlog and solid momentum for 2015 and beyond.’ ‘Public utilities are improving and I am encouraged by the signs of emerging market growth. One example of the opportunities available to us is demonstrated by our recent win of a US$9-million order in Brazil for a drinking-water ultrafiltration membrane system in the São Paulo region.’ Decker continued: ‘In addition, we are building a culture focused on continuous improvement, which will enable us to support targeted investments to accelerate our progress and improve shareholder return.’ Earlier this year Xylem Inc joined the US Water Partnership (USWP). This public–private partnership was launched on World Water Day 2012 by former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and seeks to mobilise US-based knowledge, expertise and resources to improve water security around the world – particularly in those countries most in need. Xylem’s inclusion in the USWP came in time for World Water Day 2014, the annual global commemoration of responsible water management and water stewardship. Xylem says that in joining the partnership it will continue to develop its work with public and private sector partners on resilience to water-related risks. ‘The US Water Partnership provides a unique platform for cooperation with government agencies, foundations and like-minded companies on the world’s most critical water challenges,’ said Albert Cho, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Xylem. ‘For more than six years we have worked successfully with global non-profit partners in the water sector through our corporate citizenship and social investment programme Xylem Watermark, and we look forward to working with our new partners on technology-based initiatives to build resilience in flood-prone and drought-prone cities around the world.’ Contacts: Xylem Inc, 1 International Drive, Rye Brook, NY 10573, USA. Tel: +1 914 323 5700, Fax: +1 914 323 5800, www.xyleminc.com US Water Partnership, C/o Global Environment & Technology Foundation, 2900 South Quincy Street, Suite 375, Arlington, VA 22206, USA. Tel: +1 703 379 2713, http://uswaterpartnership.org
In Brief Leaflet details laboratory-scale systems Dutch company Pervatech Bv has published a leaflet covering its laboratory-scale test systems. It details the LTU-054 and VTU-054, complete pervaporation (PV) and vapour permeation (VP) systems, respectively, developed to conduct laboratory-scale process experiments using the firm’s membranes. It also features the CTU-054, a combined PV/VP system, and the PVM-082 Pervap Teacher, described as a demonstration unit for teaching purposes. http://www.pervaporation-membranes.com Community visitors flow to desalination plant In Australia over 5000 people have visited the Victorian Desalination Plant since construction finished in December 2012, reports the facility’s operator Watersure. According to the plant’s director, Mike Jury, since construction was completed group visits to the site have averaged around 16 per month. The tours provide an important link for the community to access information and better understand the technology and environmental management aspects of the plant’s operation. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about its design and operation, and to look into the main reverse osmosis building to see the scale and ingenious design of the facility. Modern Water and Luminultra launch second-generation ATP kits UK-based Modern Water Plc, which specialises in membrane technology and develops systems for monitoring the quality of water, has collaborated with Canada’s Luminultra Technologies Ltd, an expert in microbiological testing, to promote its range of second-generation Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) kits. These are used in a wide range of applications, including water treatment and distribution, cooling water systems, biological wastewater treatment, liquid fuel handling, oil and gas production, product preservation and industrial process water. Porvair invests £3.5 million in new Hampshire base Porvair Filtration Group, a specialist in filtration and separation technologies, recently announced plans for a new £3.5-million strategic base in Hampshire, UK. The group has secured 3900-m2 (42 000-ft2) premises in New Milton as part of a strategy to consolidate its industrial process business across one site. The company currently employs 50 staff in New Milton across separate units, and the new building will bring these operations under one roof. Staff numbers are also expected to increase further when Porvair moves its microfiltration business from Segensworth to the new building next year.
Membrane Technology
5
Xylem reports improved secondquarter earnings
G
lobal water technology company Xylem Inc has posted strong results for its second quarter of fiscal 2014. The firm announced second-quarter 2014 net income of US$86 million. Excluding the impact of restructuring and realignment costs and special tax items, adjusted net income was US$88 million or US$0.48 per share – up 12 cents or 33% from the comparable period in 2013. Second-quarter revenue totalled US$1 billion, which represents a 4% rise organically, reflecting continued strength in emerging markets and modest growth in the USA and Europe, says the firm. The second-quarter adjusted operating margin improved 220 basis points, driven by increased volume, realisation
September 2014
of operating efficiencies and execution of ongoing initiatives to reduce costs. Commenting on the results, Patrick Decker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Xylem, said: ‘I am proud of our teams and what we achieved this quarter. Our organic revenue performance was strong and orders reached a record high. We are on track to deliver our full-year commitments for 2014, as well as building our backlog and solid momentum for 2015 and beyond.’ ‘Public utilities are improving and I am encouraged by the signs of emerging market growth. One example of the opportunities available to us is demonstrated by our recent win of a US$9-million order in Brazil for a drinking-water ultrafiltration membrane system in the São Paulo region.’ Decker continued: ‘In addition, we are building a culture focused on continuous improvement, which will enable us to support targeted investments to accelerate our progress and improve shareholder return.’ Earlier this year Xylem Inc joined the US Water Partnership (USWP). This public–private partnership was launched on World Water Day 2012 by former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and seeks to mobilise US-based knowledge, expertise and resources to improve water security around the world – particularly in those countries most in need. Xylem’s inclusion in the USWP came in time for World Water Day 2014, the annual global commemoration of responsible water management and water stewardship. Xylem says that in joining the partnership it will continue to develop its work with public and private sector partners on resilience to water-related risks. ‘The US Water Partnership provides a unique platform for cooperation with government agencies, foundations and like-minded companies on the world’s most critical water challenges,’ said Albert Cho, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Xylem. ‘For more than six years we have worked successfully with global non-profit partners in the water sector through our corporate citizenship and social investment programme Xylem Watermark, and we look forward to working with our new partners on technology-based initiatives to build resilience in flood-prone and drought-prone cities around the world.’ Contacts: Xylem Inc, 1 International Drive, Rye Brook, NY 10573, USA. Tel: +1 914 323 5700, Fax: +1 914 323 5800, www.xyleminc.com US Water Partnership, C/o Global Environment & Technology Foundation, 2900 South Quincy Street, Suite 375, Arlington, VA 22206, USA. Tel: +1 703 379 2713, http://uswaterpartnership.org
In Brief Leaflet details laboratory-scale systems Dutch company Pervatech Bv has published a leaflet covering its laboratory-scale test systems. It details the LTU-054 and VTU-054, complete pervaporation (PV) and vapour permeation (VP) systems, respectively, developed to conduct laboratory-scale process experiments using the firm’s membranes. It also features the CTU-054, a combined PV/VP system, and the PVM-082 Pervap Teacher, described as a demonstration unit for teaching purposes. http://www.pervaporation-membranes.com Community visitors flow to desalination plant In Australia over 5000 people have visited the Victorian Desalination Plant since construction finished in December 2012, reports the facility’s operator Watersure. According to the plant’s director, Mike Jury, since construction was completed group visits to the site have averaged around 16 per month. The tours provide an important link for the community to access information and better understand the technology and environmental management aspects of the plant’s operation. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about its design and operation, and to look into the main reverse osmosis building to see the scale and ingenious design of the facility. Modern Water and Luminultra launch second-generation ATP kits UK-based Modern Water Plc, which specialises in membrane technology and develops systems for monitoring the quality of water, has collaborated with Canada’s Luminultra Technologies Ltd, an expert in microbiological testing, to promote its range of second-generation Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) kits. These are used in a wide range of applications, including water treatment and distribution, cooling water systems, biological wastewater treatment, liquid fuel handling, oil and gas production, product preservation and industrial process water. Porvair invests £3.5 million in new Hampshire base Porvair Filtration Group, a specialist in filtration and separation technologies, recently announced plans for a new £3.5-million strategic base in Hampshire, UK. The group has secured 3900-m2 (42 000-ft2) premises in New Milton as part of a strategy to consolidate its industrial process business across one site. The company currently employs 50 staff in New Milton across separate units, and the new building will bring these operations under one roof. Staff numbers are also expected to increase further when Porvair moves its microfiltration business from Segensworth to the new building next year.
Membrane Technology
5