SNF completes 1st product line at UK chemicals plant; BJM’s Woodward retires; Hawkins joins XPV

April 16, 2018

Industry news roundup: SNF completes first production line in UK specialty chemicals plant; Ron Woodward retires from BJM Pumps; XPV Water Partners adds George Hawkins as executive in residence.

SNF completes first production line in UK specialty chemicals plant

The first production line — for cationic inverse emulsion — in SNF’s Billingham, U.K., site is now operational and producing material to primarily support the water and wastewater treatment industry. Construction of the second and third lines (Anionic Inverse Emulsion) as well as Bio-Acrylamide is underway and targeted at serving the anticipated demand for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications in the North Sea. The site will be developed further with future market and customer demand. According to the company, Billingham (Teesside) will be the second major integrated production site for SNF in Europe, and it is an ideal manufacturing location due to its skilled local labor force and proximity to the North Sea. SNF UK is a subsidiary of the French SPCM Group – a global leader in polyacrylamide and associated acrylic chemistries used in water-intensive industries such as water and wastewater treatment, oil and gas production, pulp and paper production, mining and personal care.

Ron Woodward retires from BJM Pumps

After 45 years in the industry, BJM Pumps president Ron Woodward retires from the company, effective March 30. In an announcement, Woodward said he looks forward to spending more time with his family after having delayed his retirement to support the smooth acquisition of BJM by May River Capitol. The BJM management team will report to Brian Comiskey, who joined the company in December 2017 and has an engineering and operations background with IDEX Corporation and, most recently, with Parker Hannifin.

"BJM will remain known for its customer-focused, easy-to-do-business-with approach that has been core to our success," Woodward said. "Knowing the new product developments and increasing marketing efforts underway, I am excited about the accelerated mutual growth for both your business and BJM."

XPV Water Partners adds George Hawkins as executive in residence

Former CEO and general manager of DC Water, George Hawkins, joins XPV Water Partners — a sector-specific investor focused on growth companies related to the use, treatment and management of the world’s water resources — as an executive in residence. With more than 20 years of experience in public works and environmental policy, Hawkins is well-known across the water sector for transforming DC Water into an innovative, customer-driven enterprise, while tripling its investment in clean water. His deep-rooted background and expertise in the water industry will help XPV establish company strategies, support business growth among XPV’s portfolio companies, and identify new opportunities in the marketplace.

Hawkins launched his leadership and innovation-focused consulting business Moonshot LLC after stepping down at DC Water, where he served for eight years. He retains an advisory role with DC Water and its nonprofit Blue Drop spinoff, which markets products and services developed by the utility. He also serves on the National Infrastructure and Advisory Council. Prior to joining DC Water, Hawkins was director of the District of Columbia Department of the Environment, and he previously held senior positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the law firm Ropes & Gray. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Princeton University and Cum Laude from Harvard Law School, and he has taught environmental law and policy for the Princeton Environmental Institute since 1999. He also has been the recipient of numerous awards for leadership and public service.

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