6Filtration Industry Analyst September 2013

NEWS

installed over 170 effluent treatment plants around the country.

For further information, visit www.nijhuis-water.com

and www.h2ok.co.uk

BluMetric to represent LG Water’s membranes in Canada

BluMetric Environmental Inc has signed an exclusive agreement

with LG Electronics to represent the South Korean company’s water and wastewater treatment membranes in Canada.

“This agreement sets the stage for the commercialization of a range of advanced water and wastewater treatment system product lines using LG membranes,” said BluMetric CEO Bill Touzel. “This is a ground-breaking global opportunity for the company, enabling us to introduce the next generation of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for wastewater treatment as well as launch a new and cost-effective product line for drinking water systems.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to work with BluMetric and have the company represent our membrane product lines in Canada. We look forward to a rewarding business relationship with BluMetric, combining their on-the-ground expertise with our leading membrane technologies,” said James Hotchkies, head of international business development for LG Water Division.

For further information, visit www.blumetric.ca and

www.lg.com

IGS Group expands Houston HQ

The IGS Group, which includes Generon IGS, Houston Vessel

Manufacturing, Global Nitrogen Services, Houston Compression & Services and ACFM Inc, is undertak-ing a 50 000 sq ft expansion at its Houston, Texas, USA headquarters to support its business growth.

The Houston investment complements a major expansion at its Chengdu, China manufacturing facility which was brought on

line last year. The new Houston facility will be fully operational by October 2013.

For further information, visit www.igs-global.com

Norris Production Solutions purchases SPIRIT

Dover Corp’s Norris Production Solutions (NPS) has acquired

SPIRIT Global Energy Solutions, a supplier of artificial lift tools and technology, including separators, to oil and gas producers worldwide.

The Midland, Texas-based company also develops production optimization solutions for rod-pumped wells and offers training in rod pumping and pump-off control technology.

“The SPIRIT acquisition extends NPS’ market and technology leadership in rod pumping and accelerates our participation in the fast-growing automation segment of artificial lift. We’re excited to add this premium brand to our lineup of products, and in doing so, enhance our ability to meet our customers’ end-to-end artificial lift requirements,” said NPS president Dan Newman.

For further information, visit www.

spiritenergysolutions.com, www.npsdover.com and

www.dovercorporation.com

Grundfos half-year turnover up 3%

Grundfos has reported a 3% increase in group turnover to

E1.47 billion for the first six months of 2013, and earnings of E59 million.

China saw the highest growth in turnover at 12%, Eastern European countries achieved 5%, while the Western Europe market stagnated.

“At best, the pump market is stagnating, and when seen in that light, our modest growth is very reasonable. The first half-year is always weaker than the second half-year in Grundfos, and it is our hope that the figures for growth, turnover and earnings will develop positively for the entire year. So far, market developments have not been favourable to us. Some markets do not perform as we had planned. The half-year

result is only just satisfactory,” said Grundfos group president and CEO Carsten Bjerg.

Grundfos management has a more positive outlook for the second half of the year and is still expecting 2013 to become another good year for the Danish company.

“Our global sales organisation is making a great effort by being close to the customers. At the same time, we continuously monitor our level of cost, adapt the business and keep a watch on expenses. Everything is under control, and we expect the 2013 result for the year to show satisfactory growth for the Group. We are pleased that our financial strength remains more than intact with an equity ratio of 66.2% as against 64.7% after the first half-year last year,” added Bjerg.

During the first half of the year, Grundfos inaugurated a new factory in Serbia, opened new regional headquarters in Chicago and set up a new sales company in Columbia.

For further information, visit www.grundfos.com

Lanxess completes HQ relocation

German specialty chemicals company Lanxess AG has

moved its group headquarters from Leverkusen to Cologne (see Filtration Industry Analyst, July 2013).

About 1000 employees now occupy the Lanxess Tower at Kennedyplatz 1 in Cologne’s Deutz district. The new headquarters brings together all of the company’s central management functions under one roof for the first time.

“The move has made us more efficient,” said Axel Heitmann, chairman of the Lanxess board of management. “Particularly against the backdrop of our current situation, the concentration of our forces in the Lanxess Tower is incredibly important. We intend to carry on with our success story and the new headquarters will certainly play its part.”

“We are very comfortable here. The new site and the Lanxess Tower will have a positive effect on our corporate culture,” added Heitmann.

As well as offices, the 22-story Lanxess Tower also has a separate conference floor with 13 meeting rooms and a communications centre with space for approximately 400 people.

For further information, visit www.lanxess.com