MPW investing $9 million for regeneration plant in Arizona
MPW has purchased 8 acres of land for a 30,000-square-foot industrial water regeneration plant in Yuma, Arizona. MPW’s regeneration facilities serve clients within a 700-mile radius, restoring the exhausted resin from the company’s mobile deionization systems back to an ionic form capable of purifying more water. Clients requiring pure water for their processes include the automotive, power generation, petrochemical and refining and pulp and paper industries. The new facility, which will be located at 7950 E. 30th St., will house more than 35 full-time MPW employees, with an estimated direct annual payroll in excess of $2 million. MPW estimates its total capital expenditure to be approximately $9 million for the project. Over the initial four-year period of operation, the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. estimates MPW’s facility to have an impact of more than $31.7 million within the Yuma area. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2018, with the facility reaching operational status by the second quarter of 2019. The Yuma facility will be MPW’s sixth regeneration plant, joining Newark, Ohio; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Sedalia, Missouri; Port Arthur, Texas; and Andrews, South Carolina.
SUEZ finalizes the acquisition of GE Water & Process Technologies
SUEZ announced that, together with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, it has completed the acquisition of former GE Water & Process Technologies. In connection with completion, SUEZ set up a business unit, "Water Technologies & Solutions," placed under the leadership of Heiner Markhoff, former president and CEO of GE Water. Markhoff joins SUEZ Group’s executive committee. This new unit combines both the acquired business and SUEZ’s own industrial service activities. SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions will operate with over 10,000 employees and address the needs of over 50,000 customers worldwide. Additionally, relying on 650 R&D and expert staff as well as 17 Research & Excellence Centers of SUEZ, the business unit is committed to expanding its water treatment offerings and digital capabilities to deliver best-in-class solutions. This operation secures SUEZ’s global leadership in industrial water services and strengthens its positioning as an integrated group providing services, addressing over 450,000 industrial and business customers worldwide. At the same time, it builds on its international footprint, especially in the United States.
Kenneth Bockhorst appointed COO of Badger Meter
Badger Meter, Inc. announced it has appointed Kenneth C. Bockhorst to the newly created position of senior vice president and chief operating officer. Bockhorst brings more than 20 years of experience in global operations management to Badger Meter. As chief operating officer, Bockhorst will oversee the company’s municipal water and flow instrumentation manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing and acquisition activities. He will also assume responsibility for the company’s continuous improvement initiatives and new product development.
Bockhorst most recently served as executive vice president of the energy segment of Actuant Corporation. As executive vice president of the company’s $330 million energy segment, he oversaw 1,500 employees globally and managed the segment’s three business units. His previous roles included president of the Hydratight business unit and global vice president of operations for Enerpac. During his tenure at Actuant, Bockhorst established a demonstrated track record of building strong customer relationships and motivated business teams, driving sales growth, executing robust operational excellence initiatives and improving profitability. He also developed and executed strategic plans that included major portfolio enhancements with both acquisition and divestiture activities. Prior to Actuant, he held product management and operational leadership roles at IDEX Corporation and Eaton Corporation. Bockhorst earned a bachelor’s degree in operations management, marketing and human resources from Marian University and an Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.