EBS & Microbe Detectives partner to improve wastewater performance
Environmental Business Specialists LLC (EBS), a Louisiana-based independent wastewater consulting and training company, and Microbe Detectives LLC, a Wisconsin-based pioneer in metagenomic services, are partnering to advance performance of wastewater systems across North America in food processing, chemical processing, pulp and paper mills, and petroleum refineries. EBS will incorporate Microbe Detectives DNA sequencing services in EBS industrial best practices training programs. EBS will also resell the services as a complement to their consulting, training and lab services and bioaugmentation products. Microbe Detectives will provide DNA analysis services and support.
Awards, Milestones & Expansions
Carl Munters honored as ASHRAE Pioneer of Industry
Carl Georg Munters, founder of air treatment solutions company Munters, was recognized as an ASHRAE Pioneer of the Industry. ASHRAE’s Pioneer of the Industry award honors deceased individuals who have made milestone contributions to the growth of the air conditioning, heating, refrigeration and ventilation industry, and have shown evidence of distinction, either technically or academically.
During his lifetime, Munters was granted more than 1,000 patents and most of his inventions are still in use today. For example, the basic principle of desiccant dehumidification, developed by Munters more than 60 years ago, is still the most efficient drying technique known today.
The Munters companies now employ more than 3,000 people in 30 countries and six continents. The inventions of Carl Munters have evolved into the core technologies of energy efficient, sustainable HVAC equipment and many of his innovations are still finding new markets today. Munters died on March 29, 1989, at age 92.
United Electric Controls’ One Series Safety Transmitter receives award
United Electric Controls, won the 2016 exida Safety Award for its One Series Safety Transmitter — the first SIL 2-certified transmitter designed solely for safety system applications. Selected in the sensor category, the United Electric Safety Transmitter (ST) is the first transmitter to incorporate a logic solver and high capacity safety relay output (SRO) in addition to an industry standard transmitter – all in one explosion-proof enclosure.
Image courtesy of United Electric Controls
exida provides companies around the world with guidance in functional safety, alarm management, and automation system design. Each year, the company honors companies that stand out as having made a unique contribution to industrial safety.
REXA’s new Canadian subsidiary to better serve growing customer base
REXA established REXA Canada as a subsidiary for to improving customer service, technical support, and parts availability for Canadian customers in the oil and gas, refining, power generation, metals, and mining industries.
REXA Canada customers will benefit from streamlined importation of the company’s Linear and Rotary Actuators, as well as an extensive parts inventory ready for rapid shipment. In 2017, REXA Canada will add in-house repair capabilities, training, and a local service technician. The subsidiary is located in Red Deer, Alberta.
IDA names fellowship award recipient
Holly Johnson Churman, P.E., technology manager at Water Standard, was named the recipient of the International Desalination Association (IDA) 2016-17 Fellowship Award. Churman will receive $10,000 and participate in a four-week attachment with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, host agency for the 2016-17 IDA Fellowship Program.
Holly Johnson Churman, P.E. | Image courtesy of Water Standard
A statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, PUB is the water agency that manages Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way. PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water), a globally recognized model for integrated water resources management.
Axine Water named to the 2017 Global Cleantech 100
Axine Water Technologies was named to the 2017 Global Cleantech 100, a designation produced by Cleantech Group (CTG). This is the second year in the past three that Axine has made the prestigious list.
The Global Cleantech 100 represents the most innovative and promising ideas impacting the future of a wide-range of industries, and features companies that are best positioned to solve tomorrow’s clean technology challenges. The Global Cleantech 100 is a comprehensive list of private companies with the highest potential to make significant market impact within a 5-10 year timeframe.
Siemens awards Oregon, Texas students $100,000-scholarship prizes
Three high school students were awarded grand prizes of $100,000 scholarships for their significant accomplishments in scientific research in the 17th annual Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. The Competition is the nation’s premier science research competition for high school students and seeks to promote excellence by encouraging students to undertake individual or team research projects.
Vineet Edupuganti, a senior at Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, Oregon, won the $100,000 grand prize in the Individual category for developing a biodegradable battery that can power ingestible medical devices that can track and diagnose conditions that affect internal organs.
Identical twin sisters Adhya Beesam and Shriya Beesam, both juniors at Plano East Senior High School in Plano, Texas, shared the $100,000 grand prize in the Team category for their work developing a new approach to diagnose schizophrenia earlier in patients with higher certainty using both brain scans and psychiatric evaluations.
The 2016 Siemens Competition awards were presented at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, host of this year’s national finals event. More than 1,600 projects were submitted for the competition this year in areas of computer science, physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science, environmental science, biochemistry, biology, and engineering.
APANA secures Series A financing
APANA Inc. completed a $3.5 million Series A round of financing, led by Kurita Water Industries Ltd. of Japan. At the same time, APANA also disclosed that it has added new customers for its industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) solution, including California vintner Fetzer Vineyards and Mister Car Wash, as well as major grocery chains, hotels and breweries.
The Series A financing will primarily be used by APANA to expand sales and marketing of its business intelligence suite for buildings and cooling towers to direct and channel partners, and to continue development of its IIoT solution using LoRa® radio technology aimed at wirelessly connecting waterflow sensors throughout an entire campus to their cloud-based analytics platform.
APANA also received an Innovation Incubator (IN2) award funded by Wells Fargo Foundation and co-administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for its leadership on cooling tower water use efficiency. The company also received an Innovative Conservation Program grant from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Progressive Water Treatment completes major power plant project
OriginClear Inc.’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Progressive Water Treatment Inc. (PWT), completed the installation and startup of a $2 million boiler feedwater system for a power plant operated by a major Midwestern public utility. The project utilized all Dow Chemical products. The assignment replaces a 1980s-era water treatment system and doubles plant capacity. The project marks the third largest power plant project that PWT designed, built, installed and successfully started up in 2016.
Appointments
CH2M names senior vice president & global practices director
CH2M appointed M. Dale Sands as senior vice president and global practice director for its private client sector business. Sands provides overall leadership for engineering and environmental services including industrial water, advanced facility, ports and terminals, infrastructure design, site planning and permitting, remediation and revitalization, environmental health & safety, process engineering, and sustainability/climate adaptation. CH2M’s private sector serves major corporations in the oil and gas, power, chemical, industrial, manufacturing, life sciences and electronics sectors.
A recognized leader in environmental engineering and consulting with 40 years of experience delivering work in 65 countries, Sands was previously Global Practice Director for AECOM’s leading environmental business, where he established a global knowledge technical network that ensured the best technical expertise and practices were advanced for client projects.
LaMarr Barnes named as CEO U.S. Water Services Inc.
LaMarr Barnes was named chief executive officer of U.S. Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of ALLETE Inc.
Barnes replaces former CEO Allan Bly, who resigned his position after a 20-year career with the company.
Barnes has more than 25 years of experience in industrial water treatment and technology management. Hired in 2010 as vice president of marketing, Barnes assumed added responsibilities as vice president of marketing and business development before being named senior executive vice president of marketing and strategy in 2015. Barnes earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Illinois – Champaign, Urbana, and an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.
ITT names new chief operating officer
ITT Inc. named Luca Savi as chief operating officer. In this new role, Savi will focus on driving business performance by expanding and strengthening ITT’s comprehensive management system and processes, while continuing to grow world-class operational capabilities across the company. In addition, unrelated to the structural change, Industrial Process President Aris Chicles announced he will leave the company.
Robert Scaer, Paul Nowicki named chair, president of Gannett Fleming
Gannett Fleming named Robert M. Scaer, PE, chairman of the board and chief executive officer; and Paul D. Nowicki, PE, president and chief operating officer.
In his new role, Scaer is responsible for formulating and implementing the strategic action plan that guide the direction of the firm and drive the company’s continued growth and expansion into new markets. Previously, Scaer served as president and COO from 2009 through 2016, and as chief information officer from 2004 to 2013.
Paul Nowicki (L) and Robert Scaer (R) | Image courtes of Gannet Flemming
Nowicki succeeds Scaer in the role of president and COO, and is responsible for establishing Gannett Fleming’s comprehensive goals for performance, leading the day-to-day direction and operations, and overseeing the overall performance of the company. He also oversees the daily operations of more than 60 offices worldwide. Previously, Nowicki served as Gannett Fleming’s Southeast Region director from 2014 to 2016, and as Northeast Region director from 2006 to 2014.
Conval appoints new vice president of engineering
Conval appointed Michael Glavin as vice president of engineering. In this role, he will be responsible for new product development and technology to meet the markets linked to Conval’s strategic plan.
Glavin brings more than 25 years of engineering experience in the fluid handling industry, recently serving as director of engineering at Engineered Controls International. He previously held leadership positions in engineering and auality with Cameron, Tyco Valves and Controls, and Worcester Controls. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Lowell and is a graduate of the School of Industrial Management at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
MPW names new general manager of industrial water
MPW Industrial Services named Tim Dondero general manager of its industrial water division, which serves customers in 44 states and three Canadian provinces with a fleet of more than 300 mobile trailers.
Tim Dondero | Image courtesy of MPW Industrial Services
Dondero joined MPW in 2013 as director of plant services and two years later was promoted to director of operations, where he was responsible for plant services, field services and logistics. Before MPW, Dondero worked at Sherwin Williams for 18 years, where he held positions in corporate purchasing, plant management and acquisitions. Dondero earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, and an MBA from Cleveland State University.
Nclear Inc. adds Jim Ford to board of directors
Nclear Inc. (NCI), added Jim Ford to its board of directors to help the company expand the reach of its patented Nclear™ crystals. Ford comes with more than 25 years’ experience helping companies build commercial success through competitive differentiation, channel strategies and strategic client partnerships.
Ford is currently the global head of client development for ARCADIS, providing design and engineering consultancy for natural and built assets. He has worked in private equity, helping environmental testing leader TestAmerica achieve a successful turnaround and sale to a strategic partner. He also gained extensive experience in water and wastewater treatment while working for Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, in P&L and leadership roles, most recently as VP of global corporate accounts. Ford is also the chairman of the board of directors for the Strategic Account Management Association.
Heartland Technology expands commercial team
Heartland Technology added top water industry veteran Assaad Haddad to its corporate team. Haddad brings 30 years of experience in water and wastewater treatment to his new role as Heartland’s director of commercial operations. In this role, he will drive the company’s planned expansion into key global markets and build relationships with engineering firms, which are key channel partners for Heartland.
Prior to coming to Heartland, Haddad was the commercial engineering project development manager for GE Water and served as the asset manager of GE’s largest Built-Own-Operate (BOO) water treatment facilities. He has been involved with a wide variety of water treatment projects in various geographies and industries that include the Sulaibiya wastewater reclamation plant in Kuwait, the Hamma desalination plant in Algeria, the Moneta Divide shale-gas wastewater treatment plant in Wyoming, and the Alabama Power Plant – Barry water treatment plant.
