REPORTS FROM THE SUPPLIER SECTOR
ORDERS AMD DELIVERIES
Weyerhaeuser has ordered a board machine dry end rebuild from Metso Paper for its mill in Valliant, OkIa. The rebuild is designed to increase line capacity and to help manufacture high quality linerboard grades. The dry end machine rebuild will start up in late 2005.
Alternative Green Energy Systems Inc. (AGES) has announced that it has received approval for funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada to finance the fabrication and installation of a large scale KDS-3000 System at a Canadian pulp mill. The KDS 3000 is a large-scale production machine designed by AGES to kinetically dewater and disintegrate a variety of wet waste biomass materials.
Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. has ordered a stock cleaning system from Kadant Black Clawson Inc. for the coarse screening loop in the Matane, Que., mill's existing system.
Weyerhaeuser has reached an agreement with Eaton Corp. for it to perform electrical are flash surveys at Weyerhaeuser's industrial facilities as part of an employee safety pilot program. Results from the survey will be used to develop a list of personal protection equipment required to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards. Each electrical cabinet will then be labeled with this equipment information to ensure the health and safety of the workers.Rock-Tenn Corp. has purchased Menasha Corp.'s Athens, Ala., corrugated sheet feeder. Rock-Tenn was interested in the Athens location's equipment capabilities, existing customer base, and growth opportunities.
Cascades boxboard Inc. has ordered a float purger stock cleaning system for its Toronto, Ont., mill from Kadant Black Clawson Inc. This mill was the first to install a float purger when the equipment was introduced in 1981. The float purger cleaning system incorporates the concentration and removal of light contaminants, the defibering of undeflaked stock, and the collection and removal of heavy grit into a single machine.
NAME CHANGES
Hyster Sales Co. has changed its name to Papé Material Handling Inc. to reflect its selection of material handling equipment lines. All other elements of the company will remain the same, and the name change is part of a larger effort by The Papé Group to align all branches of its business under the Pape brand.
MARKETING/LICENSING
Wyesco of Louisiana is now Kvaerner Pulping s representative agent in the southeast U.S.
EXPANSIONS
Andritz has strengthened its presence in Chile by expanding its Santiago office to coordinate capital sales and handle localized project management. A Concepcion office has also opened.
Voith Paper is building a new paper technology center for almost Euro 50 million where it will be possible to test and optimize in advance the entire paper production process under real conditions.
NLB Corp. has added a regional sales office in California to serve customers in the western U.S. The facility has NLB high-pressure and UHP water jet pump units for sale, rent, or lease and also gives water jet users a local source of factory-trained service people.
ABB has opened a corporate research center (CRC) at its industrial computer control system facility in Wickliffe, Ohio, to concentrate on advanced computer process control and robotics to improve the efficiency and capability of industrial plants and electric utilities. Approximately $25 million has been invested in CRC operations in Wickliffe; Raleigh, N.C.; and Windsor, Conn.; which perform research and development projects with leading universities, including case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, and North Carolina State University.
Linde Gas has made operational a nitrogen liquifier at its Canton air separation unit (ASU) in Canton, Ohio, which converts gaseous nitrogen byproduct, previously lost during the plant's production of gaseous oxygen, liquid oxygen, and liquid argon, into a daily production increase of 500 tons of liquid nitrogen. The addition is the third major expansion for the Canton ASU since it was built in 1985.
NEW FACILITIES
Kansas City Southern and Magellan Midstream Partners celebrated the official opening of KSCs new fueling facility and tank car loading rack in Heavener, OkIa. The first phase of the project, which included construction of a 28-mile pipeline from Spiro to Heavener, Okla., was completed in April and financed by Magellan. The second phase, which included construction of the tank car loading rack, was completed in June and financed by KCS.
Vimax Industries announced it would open the first of two sodium hydrosulfite (SHS) facilities in North America, headquartering its operations in Mobile, Ala. The company's first plant will begin production in January 2005 at the former Virginia Chemicals site in Bucks, Ala., just north of Mobile. A second facility will open next year near Montreal, Que. Vimax intends to become the largest producer of SHS in North America, and second largest worldwide.
MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS
Ciba Specialty Chemicals has signed an agreement with lmerys to purchase AB CDM, a Swedish-based supplier of chemicals. Ciba says the acquisition will improve its position in the important Swedish paper chemicals market and will establish a direct presence in the water treatments market. The deal is expected to close before year end, subject to the customary regulatory review.
