3-2 Program 2008.11 Air Products, Drexel University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have agreed to continue their Joint Cooperation Agreement for an integrated "3-2 Program" enabling two exceptional Chinese students per year the opportunity to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees and a corporate work assignment.
Launched in 2007, the partnership was the first of its kind to involve a Chinese univer,ity, an American university and an international corporation. Students complete concurrently three years of education at SJTU and a further two years at Drexel, including a six-month internship assignment with Air Products. Upon completion of the program, students receive a bachelor's degree in their engineering major from SJTU and a master's degree in global engineering from Drexel.
The first two students to join the program were Dawei Ren and Qinling Shen. They are currently working at Air Products in six-month process technology assignments as part of the overall curriculum.
Looking after the program on behalf of Air Products is Joe Lamack, global Career Development Program (CDP) Manager, who says: "Air Products is pleased to provide the additional co-op job opportunity as part of the curriculum because it really gives these young engineers a head start in their careers. They get the chance to interact with Air Product employees in our global engineering organization and develop skills they will be able to use when they return to China."
Sponsorship costs for the program, including transportation, room, board and tuition, are covered by Air Products and Drexel Univer,ity. Students accepted into the program enroll in an agreed-upon course of study at Drexel. The initial focus of the program is in chemical and mechanical engineering disciplines.
Air Liquide Launches H2E 2008.11 The European Commission authorized EUR 67.6 million for the Horizon Hydrogen Energy (H2E) innovation program, coordinated by the Air Liquide Group. The H2E program, which represents an overall investment in research and technology of almost EUR 200 million over a seven year period, aims to create sustainable and competitive hydrogen-energy solutions. H2E will investigate the development of innovative technologies for hydrogen production using renewable energy, hydrogen storage and the industrialization of fuel cells. The program will also contribute to the establishment of a suitable regulatory framework, will sponsor demonstration programs, and provide educational initiatives that familiarize the public with this new, clean energy vector. About twenty Air Liquide hydrogen partners will participate in this program including industrial groups, small and medium-sized companies, and French public research laboratories. Air Liquide has created a special website, www.planete-hydrogene.com, to provide information on H2E.
François Darchis, member of the Air Liq"uide Executive Committee, in charge of Advanced Technologies, said, "The H2E program will enable the Group to confirm its position as a major player in the development of hydrogen-energy, and to be ready for the emergence of hydrogen in transport by 2015. Air Liquide believes that it is its responsibility as the world leader to open new markets and introduce scientific and technological innovation into society."
Air Products Brings Up Prices 2008.11 Air Products increased schedule pricing on LOX and LIN by eight percent, LAR and liquid and bulk hydrogen by 12 percent, and liquid and bulk helium by 15 to 30 percent for merchant customers in North America. The pricing initiatives are needed to address continued cost pressures and the need for ongoing investment in infrastructure to improve operating efficiencies. These cost pressures include escalating material, labor, and energy costs associated with the production and distribution of merchant gas products, and to support capital investment required to meet current and future demand.
Air Products Focuses on Hydrogen Education Initiative 2008.11 In the US, Air Products is participating in a hydrogen education program, the Hydrogen Education Initiative. The initiative is funded largely by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and managed by the Da Vinci Science Center of Allentown, PA. Two primary FTA objectives are to identify potential barriers to adoption of new hydrogen technologies and to educate the public on developing a hydrogen economy. As part of this Hydrogen Education Initiative, Air Products recently commissioned a new hydrogen fueling station and two hydrogen-powered buses. The new hydrogen fueling station is located at Air Products headquarters in Allentown, PA. The hydrogen-powered buses will be based at Air Products and the nearby campus of Lehigh Valley Hospital. The Da Vinci Science Center will produce a learning program to educate people about hydrogen's safe, clean, and effective use as a transportation fuel. "There is a clear need to develop economic, safe, and environmentally-friendly transportation fuels and to promote their use," said Dr. Robert A. Fox, Associate Director and Director of Education for the Da Vinci Science Center.
"We greatly appreciate the work of the Da Vinci Science Center in seeking the funding for the fueling station and the two hydrogen-powered buses as integral parts of this research and education program. The opportunity to get hydrogen-powered transportation vehicles out into any community will go a long way in educating the public about hydrogen and its capabilities," said John McGlade, Chairman, President and CEO at Air Products.
Air Products Refuels Commitment to Sustainability 2008.11 An Air Products' refueler was recently unveiled at Loughborough University in the UK. The refueling facility, one of only two currently operational in the UK, will enable the University to extend its research in hydrogen, as well as provide refueling services to hydrogen vehicles used by campus-based organizations. Loughborough's ultimate goal is to transfer its own service fleet over to hydrogen. Based at Holywell Park, the facility is part of a cluster of hydrogen refueling stations being set up across the region by the British Midlands Hydrogen Forum. Known as the Midlands Hydrogen Ring, the stations will be at the heart of hydrogen fueling infrastructure planned throughout the UK.
The University's Chief Operating Officer, Will Spinks, said: "At Loughborough sustainability is key. The opening of this new refueling station underlines our commitment to operating in an environmentally friendly way and to the development of new technologies that support this goal."
Ian Williamson, Air Products Hydrogen Energy Systems Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "We are extremely proud to provide the latest technology in hydrogen refueling to Loughborough University. Air Products is the market leader in the development of hydrogen fueling stations. We have already built more than 85 stations worldwide and over 66,000 safe vehicle fuelings have already taken place."
Air Products Supplies Malaysian Steel Co 2008.11 Air Products has signed a long-term contract with Ann Joo Steel Berhad, a subsidiary of Ann Joo Resources Berhad, to supply on-site gaseous oxygen, nitrogen and argon to Ann Joo Steel's mill at Prai in Malaysia. Air Products will build, own and operate an on-site Air Separation Unit (ASU), scheduled to come on-stream in mid-2009, with a total production capacity of more than 800 tons per day (tpd), including liquefied industrial gases for supply to the fast growing market in Malaysia.
"We have been supplying Ann Joo Steel for more than 10 years and are honored to support their expansion project. This long-term contract demonstrates how our leading technologies and cost-effective supply are able to help our customers meet their increasing requirements," said Howard Castle-Smith, Vice President of Tonnage Gases for Air Products Asia. "The steel market in Malaysia is expected to grow in alignment with the country's economic expansion plan. Our new investment and contract will put us in a good position to continue our support to the steel market."
Airco Names New Leaders 2008.11 The Airco Distributor Association (ADA), which represents 90 independent US distributors of industrial gases and related products, has named several new leaders. Linde North America provides marketing and administrative support to the ADA.
Mark Falconer, President of the Minneapolis-based Minneapolis Oxygen Company, will become the ADA's Co-Chairman, working alongside Craig Wood's ADA Board Emeritus and outgoing ADA Co-Chairman. Wood, position is a new one, created by the ADA board to help transition leadership roles and responsibilities. Wood is President of the Sandusky, Ohio-based O.E. Meyer Company's welding division.
The ADA also named two new board members: Gary Lichtenheld, President, Terrace Supply Company of Villa Park, IL, and Kelly Root, Vice President of Sales for Capitol Welders Supply, based in Baton Rouge, LA.
The ADA's three new board alternates are: Emmett Aldredge III, Vice President of Planning and Finance for Machine and Welding Supply of Dunn, NC; Bob Iverson, President of Springfield, MA-based Ivey Industries, Inc., and Lloyd Robinson, President of AWISCO, New York Corp., based in Maspeth, NY.
AL Gives Prices Another Boost 2008.11 Air Liquide Industrial US LP raised prices for its industrial gas customers. Prices for bulk oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen increased approximately 15 percent. Carbon dioxide and dry ice prices increased 10 percent. Prices for helium, which has been impacted worldwide by increased demand and limited sources, increased 15 percent. Prices for argon increased by 20 percent due to higher costs of production. These changes became effective October 15 and are varied based on customer geographies, volumes and existing customer contracts. In addition to offsetting growing manufacturing costs, the price adjustments will provide re-investment capital to increase plant capacities and fund efficiency improvement projects to benefit customers.
AWESCO - A "Giant" in Tech Valley 2008.11 This year, Airgas, one of the nation’s largest distributors of industrial, medical and specialty gas, acquired two more of the Hudson Valley Region’s (New York) remaining independent gas distributors, further limiting choices for gas customers. But as the US gas distribution industry continues to consolidate, AWESCO — now Tech Valley’s largest independent gas distributor — continues to thrive and grow. “We live here and work here,” said J. David Mahoney, the President and Chief Executive Officer of AWESCO. “This consolidation is following a bigger trend, that of national distributors grabbing up local, independent gas distributors. We have seen this before and we want to assure our customers that we are not going anywhere. We understand our market, our customers’ needs, and the benefits of continually reinvesting in the Tech Valley community to keep it healthy and vital, rather than sending the profits to out-of-area shareholders. At AWESCO, we are committed to being Tech Valley’s local, independent supplier.”
And that is exactly the message AWESCO delivers with its latest billboard campaign, “A Real David vs. Goliath,” featuring President/CEO J. David Mahoney as “David” taking direct aim at the “big guys” and beckoning customers to “Bet on Your Local Leader.” AWESCO has been locally owned, operated and invested in the Capital District and Hudson Valley Region for 68 years. AWESCO is an independent distributor of Industrial, Medical and Specialty Gases that has a solid reputation for providing quality products, technical expertise and exceptional customer service.
Mahoney, 54, bought the former Albany Welding Supply Co., Inc. (now shortened to AWESCO) in 1986. He started as a sales trainee with the company in 1976 when he was 22. By age 30, he had elevated himself to partner and President. When he acquired the business in 1986, it was grossing $2 million a year and employed a staff of 19. AWESCO now employs 38, carries an annual payroll of $2 million and projects revenue at $10 million for 2008.
“We will continue to do what has always set us apart from our competition,” said Mahoney. “Delivering hands on quality and local service while at the same time providing our customers with the stability and security they have come to trust.”
B&R Accredited in Montana 2008.11 B&R Compliance Associates has been accepted by the State of Montana's Plumbing Board for its Healthcare System Installer training and accreditation program. Montana law requires that all hospital system installers have a medical gas endorsement made through Montana's Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division. The state requires that all plumbers working in the area of medical gases have a minimum of five years experience, and a medical gas endorsement. It also requires continuing education of four hours per year of code-related training, approved by the Board, in order to maintain their endorsement.
“We are pleased the Plumbing Board has recognized B&R’s training and certifications program as acceptable for the required medical gas endorsement in that state,” said Bob Sutter, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer for B&R. “B&R offers the only training and certification program for hospital bulk gas system installers open to all independent manufacturers and distributors of medical gases.”
The associates at B&R Compliance have lifetimes of experience in the medical and industrial gases business. The company specializes in delivering cost-effective regulatory solutions, which are customized to suit a broad cross-section of business and compliance needs.
Biodesulfurization 2008.11 Researchers in Iran have published what they describe as the first study on a fungus that can remove sulfur — a major source of air pollution — from crude oil more effectively than conventional refining methods. The finding could help reduce air pollution and acid rain caused by the release of sulfur components in gasoline and may help oil companies meet tougher emission standards for fuel, the scientists say.
According to the "Study of the First Isolated Fungus Capable of Heavy Crude Oil Biodesulfurization,"(Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, October 1, 2008) the existing processes for refining so-called "heavy" or high-sulfur crude oil, use high temperatures and pressures to convert sulfur to hydrogen sulfide gas. However, these processes leave behind some kinds of sulfur-based compounds, which wind up in gasoline and other fuels. Scientists have known for a long time that certain microbes can remove sulfur from oil. Nobody had tried using these microbes in so-called biodesulfurization of heavy crude oil until now. In the new study, the scientists describe isolation and testing of the first fungus capable of removing sulfur from heavy crude oil. The fungus, called Stachybotrys, removed 65-76 percent of the sulfur present in certain heavy crude oil from two different oil fields. The process, which occurs at slightly above room temperature, does not need high temperatures and high-energy consumption.
BOC Offers Dental Essentials 2008.11 BOC Medical is making its LifeLine Emergency Oxygen kit, which consists of a portable oxygen cylinder and ancillary equipment, and its Powerheart G3, an automated external defibrillator, available to help health-care professionals, especially dental practices, manage medical emergencies when they arise.
These two BOC items can form the core of a medical practice's emergency response equipment. According to the UK Resuscitation Council, medical professionals should have on hand, at a minimum: portable oxygen cylinder (D size) with pressure reduction valve and flowmeter; oxygen face mask with tubing; basic set of oropharyngeal airways; pocket mask with oxygen port; self-inflating bag and mask apparatus with oxygen reservoir and tubing; a variety of well-fitting adult and child face masks for attaching to self-inflating bag; portable suction with appropriate suction catheters and tubing; single use sterile syringes and needles; spacer device for inhaled bronchodilators; automated blood glucose measurement device; and an Automated External Defibrillator.
Bustamante Joins Cramer Decker 2008.11 Alan Bustamante has joined Cramer Decker Industries as Regional Sales Manager for the Midwestern and Northeast-Alan Bustamante ern regions of the US. Bustamante brings over 17 years of experience in the high-pres,ure gas, cryogenic, propane and refrigeration industries to Cramer Decker. Bustamante has served in senior sales and sales management roles, including in Latin America and the Southeastern and Northeastern US. Most recently, Bustamante held the position of Regional Sales Manager for a national company specializing in gas containment valves and cylinders. He has been an active member and participant in the Gases and Welding Distributor Association (GAWDA) for many years.
"We are extremely excited about Alan joining our growing Gas & Cryogenic Division," stated Paul Cramer, Vice President and Director of Compressed Gas Operations at Cramer Decker Industries. "Alan's extensive experience and long-standing commitment to the gas & cryogenics industry will add significant and immediate value to our expanding operations, and will enable us to aggressively support broader geographies of customers with our extensive product lines," added Cramer.
Cavagna Promotes in NA 2008.11 The Cavagna Group's President and CEO Davide Cavagna has promoted Mr. Richard J. Darché to President of Cavagna North America. David S. Ellis has been elevated to the position of Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
Darché has over 35 years of experience in the LPG appliance and equipment business. After joining Cavagna in 1987, he has held various management positions, most recently as the firm's VP and General Manager.
Ellis, who joined the firm in 2000, has been involved with sales and marketing of industrial, medical and specialty gas valves for over 21 years. He most recently held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing and is responsible for developing Cavagna, compressed gas product line, which today represents a major segment of the company's North American sales.
Clean Trucks Program 2008.11 Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach have adopted the "San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan" to improve air quality in the South Coast Air Basin more quickly and aggressively than has ever been attempted by any seaport, anywhere in the world. The main goal is to reduce air pollution from the diesel truck fleet by 80 percent by 2012, by financing a new generation of new or retrofitted vehicles. Beginning October 1st 2008, trucks made prior to 1988 were banned. The program will progressively ban all trucks that don't meet 2007 emission standards within four years and encourage truck fleets of alternatively-fueled vehicles, like LNG.
To support this objective, the Port of Long Beach is installing the largest LNG vehicle refueling station in the world. The station is equipped with eight Cryostar SUBTRAN transfer pumps, two GBS Offload pumps, one MRP reciprocating pump and the Cryostar LNG station control panel and software. The Refueling Station supplying saturated and cold LNG is being built in partnership with General Physics and Chart USA for Clean Energy.
CO2 Separation & Coal Power 2008.11 The Linde Group and Vattenfall Europe Technology Research GmbH, a subsidiary of the Vattenfall Energy Group, have entered into a technology partnership for carbon dioxide separation in coal-fired power stations. The aim of the collaboration is to test the oxyfuel combustion process for lignite and anthracite, and to develop the technology for subsequent use in large power stations.
The tests are being conducted in Schwarze Pumpe in Brandenburg, Germany at the recently commissioned Vattenfall research facility. The 30 MW plant offers the possibility to test oxyfuel technology on a level that is comparable to a power-plant-scale. The target is to decrease specific emissions from more than 900 grams to well below 100 grams of CO2 per kWh. Vattenfall's pilot plant is unique in that all components of oxyfuel technology and the whole carbon capture and storage (CCS) chain will be tested. The aim is to validate the different parts of this technology and to learn how they function together.
Linde built an ASU and a carbon dioxide liquefaction plant for the pilot power station and will provide extensive scientific and technical expertise during the first trial phase. The pilot plant is one important step in the scale-up process towards a full-scale power plant with CCS.
"This promising collaboration with Vattenfall can provide an important impulse to climate protection," said Dr. Aldo Belloni, a member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. "Our professed aim is to use our technologies to contribute towards a reduction in emissions. Our activities therefore range from continually improving the efficiency of our plants through CO2 separation technologies and adopting sensible recycling concepts to producing environmentally friendly fuels."
"The pilot plant is a milestone on the way to converting coal into electricity that is almost free of emissions. It represents the first ever transition from the lab to reality. Our perspective with this step is to make a decisive contribution to global climate protection," explains Vattenfall, CEO and President Lars G. Josefsson.
In the oxyfuel process, the coal is not combusted with air from the environment, but in an atmosphere of recycled flue gas and pure oxygen. The carbon dioxide can then be separated from the flue gas stream by a process of condensation, and liquefied by applying pressure. Linde will take delivery of about 4,000 tons of liquefied CO2 (LCO2) per year from the research facility and market it. Both Linde and Vattenfall intend to work together to develop further possible applications for the separated LCO2.
CO2 to Fuel 2008.11 Carbon Sciences Inc. is developing a technology to transform CO2 into the basic fuel building blocks required to produce gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other portable fuels. Speaking at Cambridge University in the UK at the "First International Summit on Policy, Technology and Investment, Derek McLeish, the Company, CEO, said, "By innovating at the intersection of chemical engineering and bio-engineering disciplines, we are developing a highly scalable bio-catalytic process to meet the fuel needs of the world. With over 28 billion tons of CO2 emitted each year, there is an abundant supply of raw material available to produce renewable and sustainable fuels for global consumption. Carbon Sciences has been working for some time on using CO2 as the feedstock for production of high value products. Since the world is highly dependent on the existing transportation and fuel delivery infrastructure, we view fuel to be the ultimate high value product. Our solution is to enable a sustainable world of fuel consumption and climate stability by transforming CO2 into fuel. For example, Carbon Sciences' breakthrough technology can be used to transform CO2 emitted from fossil fuel power plants into gasoline to power our cars.
Cogeneration and Greenhouse Power 2008.11 GE Energy announced that one of the Netherlands' largest commercial tomato greenhouse operators has implemented the world's first commercial 24-cylinder gas engine. Royal Pride Holland is using the engines to power the greenhouse's new cogeneration plant. The project highlights the increased emphasis on combined heat and power (CHP) in Europe as the region increases its focus on energy efficiency.
Two of GE's 4-MW, natural gas-fueled J624 GS engines have begun powering Royal Pride Holland's new greenhouse cogeneration plant, a sprawling greenhouse facility that is located in Middenmeer, 50 kilometers north of Amsterdam. The Jenbacher units were installed as part of a pilot project to demonstrate the engine's commercial viability for the horticultural industry.
The plant is equipped with GE's Jenbacher cogeneration-CO2 fertilization process that treats the engines' CO2-rich exhaust, allowing the gas to be recycled in the greenhouse as a special fertilizer to help boost crop production instead of venting the gas into the atmosphere. In addition to supporting the greenhouse's operations, surplus electricity from the cogeneration plant is being delivered to the local grid. The cogeneration plant project allowed Royal Pride Holland to expand the greenhouse to 102 hectares, up from the site's original 45 hectares of surface area, making it one of the largest facilities in the Netherlands and a major international horticultural production center.
"We are proud to be part of the commercial introduction of GE, J624 GS engine to help us enhance our operational performance and overall competitive position," said Frank van Kleef, Director of Royal Pride Holland. "The introduction of this new technology supports the commitment of our country's horticultural industry to continuously improve the production and quality of its products for the global marketplace."
"Royal Pride Holland's installation of the J624 engines is just one example of how GE's technology can be deployed to support a variety of cogeneration and on-site power projects to help our customers meet their operational and competitive requirements," said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy's Jenbacher Gas Engine business. The J624 GS engine becomes commercially available to global customers beginning in 2009.
GE Energy's portfolio of Jenbacher cogeneration applications — including for greenhouses — recently received ecomagination certification under GE's corporate initiative to offer customers advanced technologies to help meet their pressing environmental challenges. To earn ecomagination certification, a technology must pass a stringent, independent audit and offer customers definite economic and environmental advantages over existing products. CHP plants are inherently more energy efficient because they consume less fossil fuel than separate power and heating systems, thus supporting the Netherlands' emissions reduction efforts.
Dupont & AP are Coppeready 2008.11 DuPont Air Products (DA) NanoMaterials LLC, a 50/50 joint venture of DuPont and Air Products, unveiled CoppeReady® Cu3988, an innovative copper CMP slurry with enhanced polishing capabilities for advanced technology nodes. CoppeReady Cu3988 enables high copper removal rates at low pressures, excellent topography performance, industry leading defectivity and an improved total cost of ownership, according to Edward Shober, Chief Executive Officer for DA NanoMaterials.
Energy, portfolio of Jenbacher cogen 2008.11
FIBA Celebrates 50 Years in Business 2008.11 In October, FIBA Technologies, Inc. celebrated its 50th year in business at its Millbury, MA headquarters and manufacturing facilities. President and CEO Jack Finn and his team welcomed customers, suppliers and guests to the two-day event, which featured an open house at FIBA’s new headquarters, tube manufacturing plant, and assembly plant in Millbury, a celebration dinner in Bolton, MA, and a day of recreational activities on October 10th.
On the evening of October 9th, a cocktail reception and dinner was feted at the International Golf Club in Bolton, MA. The event was attended by FIBA’s key customers and suppliers from all over the US and Europe. Several key employees from FIBA’s facilities in Louisville, KY, East Greenville, PA, and Rayne, LA flew in to be part of the celebration.
At the 50th Anniversary dinner, Joe Sandello, Executive Vice President, introduced Jack Finn, CEO. Jack presented a pictorial overview highlighting FIBA’s growth from a small, independent gas distributor to the company it is today. Later, Jack introduced his mother, Dorothy Finn who, along with Frank Finn, an industry legend, started the company in 1958 as a three person, one truck gas distributor.
Today, FIBA employs 250 people at five US locations. The Company has experienced a 20 percent AGR over the past five years. FIBA certainly has a lot to celebrate!
FIBA Granted Special Permit 2008.11 FIBA Technologies, Inc. has been granted the special permit DOT-SP 14661, which authorizes a 10-year requalification cycle on certain compressed gas tube trailers and ISO skid containers by the US Department of Transportation. A 10-year requalification cycle reduces downtime of valuable assets and significantly reduces operating costs. This special permit requires acoustic emission testing (AET) to assess the integrity of the cylinders and tubes. AET provides a superior test method while the extended retest cycles reduce the cost of fleet operations.
FIBA serves industrial and specialty gas and chemical companies that use intermodal, high-pressure gas and cryogenic products globally. It provides requalification services as well as pressure vessels, tube trailers and multiple-element gas containers (MEGC).
Fischer-Tropsch Reactor 2008.11 A pilot-scale Fischer-Tropsch reactor operating at Velocys headquarters in Plain City, Ohio passed 3,000 hours time on-stream. The long duration and capacity achieved show the commercial potential for this revolutionary approach to synthetic fuel production, which can open the door for second generation biofuels, biofuels that do not use food crops as feedstock. Dr. Wayne Simmons, CEO of Velocys, noted that this milestone has meaning outside of his company, stating ,ynthetic fuels, including BTL (biomass-to-liquids) and off,hore GTL (gas-to-liquids), will be an important part of our energy future, and both require cost effective, scalable Fischer-Trop,ch reactors. He added that pilot scale reactor testing is a critical development step on the path to large-scale demonstrations, like our project with the Air Force [a 25 gallon per day demonstration in conjunction with Wright Patterson Air Force Base scheduled for late 2009].
Flowserve Joins S&P 500 2008.11 Flowserve Corporation, a leading provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, including the power, chemical, water, oil and gas, and general industries, has been named to join the select membership of the S&P 500 Index.
The S&P 500 Index, according to Standard & Poor's, is widely regarded as the single best gauge of the US equity markets. S&P has announced that companies selected for inclusion in the index are "not only considered leaders in their respective industry segments but also have been determined to add value to the worldwide equity markets." /> "We consider Flowserve's inclusion in the S&P 500 as a reflection of our company's overall strength, continued strong performance and successful execution against our global strategy," said Lewis Kling, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our strong position in our core markets has positioned us well to capitalize on the robust growth we continue to see in the global infrastructure markets."
Focus on Hydrogen and Renewables 2008.11 Energy leaders convened in Golden, Colorado this fall at the National Hydrogen Association's (NHA) Fall Forum to address the critical connection between hydrogen and renewables. The link is mutual: the hydrogen industry needs more renewables to produce hydrogen and the renewables industry needs hydrogen for storage of excess or off-peak energy to address irregular supplies. "Hydrogen and renewable technologies are often touted as the ultimate energy pair but one that is far away," said NHA Executive Vice President Debbi Smith.
"While development is still very important, there has been a lot of progress recently with real examples that pragmatically exploit the benefits of each."
At the meeting, over 30 keynote and panel speakers revealed the latest on renewable-hydrogen installations, public policy, infrastructure development, financing, and commercialization strategies. Mike Eckhart, President of the American Council on Renewable Energy, made a presentation on the role of financing and how the hydrogen industry should model itself to fund additional project development. Dr. Sandy Thomas gave a well-received sneak peak at the NHA's soon to be published transportation analysis, which shows the impact that many alternative vehicle technologies will have on greenhouse gases, oil consumption, and the greening of the grid over the next 100 years. Panel presentations covered topics such as fuel cells that run on landfill gas, and the now famous solar-hydrogen home developed by Mike Strizki of Renewable Energy International. It ended with an industry tour and interactive discussions resulting in key points that the NHA Renewable Hydrogen Working Group will use to develop a renewable hydrogen rollout plan.
Hydrodec Transforms Oil 2008.11 Hydrodec has opened the nation's first sustainable transformer oil refinery in Canton, Ohio, where it will produce SUPERfineTM, the world's first sustainable and reusable transformer oil. Transformer oil insulates and cools transformers, which are used for switching electrical supply from low to high voltage. The eight million gallon per year capacity plant will recycle spent transformer oil and convert it to SUPERfine transformer oil which can be used (and re-used) by utilities. The 22,000 square foot plant will initially provide up to 35 family-wage jobs. Hydrodec chose Canton because it is centrally located, within 500 miles of the largest utility users in the country, and because of its favorable environment for businesses.
"We estimate that each year more than 400 million pounds of carbon dioxide are generated from the secondary use of used transformer oil," said John Cowan, President of Hydrodec North America. "With SUPERfine oil, Hydrodec hopes to get that number down to zero. Best of all, in the process, we help utilities save money, help increase our energy independence and create jobs here in Canton."
Currently, most used transformer oil is sold to waste oil companies, who then re-sell it for a variety of uses. Virtually all of this used oil is eventually burned, releasing thou,ands of tons of carbon emissions and often other harmful contaminants, such as PCBs and other "Persistent Organic Pollutants" into the air. Hydrodec's proprietary technology addresses this issue by converting used transformer oil into a chemical contaminant-free product that meets and usually exceeds all industry standards. SUPERfine can be recycled again and again, giving utilities a sustainable, recyclable, reliable resource. Hydrodec will sell SUPERfine oil directly to utilities for use in existing transformers, as well as to transformer manufacturers and oil suppliers, who will use it in new transformers. By producing at capacity (eight million gallons of SUPERfine oil per year), the Canton facility will effectively remove millions of pounds of CO2 emissions per year.
Hydrogen and Plasma 2008.11 Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. (HEC) has delivered and commissioned its hydrogen-fueled power generation system in combination with a waste remediation package from Startech Environmental Corp. The power generation system will run on converted waste gases processed by the Startech Plasma ConverterTM.
In March, HEC and Startech began a joint development effort for commercial projects that combine HEC's hydrogen-fueled power generation systems with Startech's proprietary Plasma Converter technology for waste destruction, processing and remediation. The goal is to have HEC's power generation systems provide clean power using the hydrogen-based byproduct fuel produced by Startech's Plasma Converter.
In September, HEC commissioned its Oxx Power® power generation system at Startech's demonstration facilities in Connecticut. According to Startech executives, the HEC system will be a required component of their entire power system package. End-users will determine if the power system will be used to create a closed-loop cycle, where the unit provides power to the Startech system, or provides power for external uses. Power levels produced will be based on multiple factors including the size of Startech's Plasma Converter and the amount of hydrogen-based fuel produced by the waste remediation process. HEC believes it can achieve power levels ranging from 5kW to 1MW, depending on the size of the unit and fuel type being used.
Ted Hollinger, President and CEO of HEC, said, "We're excited for the potential which this strategic alliance brings to HEC, Startech, and frankly anyone with the desire to effectively remediate waste, while producing electrical power and reducing energy costs. Our work with Startech continues to open up markets for our combined products in a package that adds tremendous value to the end-user."
Joseph F. Longo, Startech's President, said, "The compelling interest in the use of hydrogen for vehicles and stationary carbon"less power has been one of the reasons for this alliance with HEC. We think it is important to appreciate the fact that the HEC engine-generator is not a fuel cell; it is a robust internal-combustion reciprocal-engine, much like the well-proven one in your vehicle. A pound of hydrogen contains more than twice the energy as a pound of jet fuel. Hydrogen produced by Startech's Plasma Converters can be used in HEC's engines to produce absolutely pristine carbonless power."
Lawrence Pumps Up Growth 2008.11 Lawrence Pumps, Inc. has joined the ranks of America's fastest-growing private companies by being named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list in the annual Inc. Magazine national analysis. Founded in 1935, Lawrence Pumps is based in Lawrence, MA, and operates a regional headquarters in Singapore. The company designs and manufactures sophisticated industrial centrifugal pumps that provide solutions to some of the world's most difficult pumping problems. "If it's too hot, too cold, or too abrasive for standard pumps, Lawrence Pumps will provide the optimal solution," said CEO Paul Reddick.
According to Inc. Magazine, Lawrence Pumps ranks 14th in the Northeast and 137th nationwide among the most rapidly expanding private companies in the US. An astounding 150 percent growth in sales since 2005 earned Lawrence Pumps a place on the 2008 Inc., "Our remarkable success can be attributed not only to the unique nature of our product," explained Reddick, "but also to the hard work and dedication of our employees and their ability to resolve new challenges presented by global customers in the evolving energy and petrochemical sectors."
Lincoln Acquires Brastak 2008.11 Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. has acquired a 90 percent interest in Brastak, a leading Brazilian manufacturer of brazing products. The company is based in São Paulo and has annual sales of approximately $30 million. "The Brastak acquisition represents the expansion of our brazing product line as well as our continued expansion into developing international markets," said John M. Stropki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The Brastak business, previously owned and operated by the Takemoto family, will strengthen our presence in the Brazilian market and provide a platform for servicing the South American region with high quality brazing products."
Linde Acquires Elgas 2008.11 The Linde Group has acquired the remaining 50 percent of the shares in the Australian LPG-company Elgas, for EUR 126 million. Elgas, established in 1984, was a 50/50 joint venture between BOC Limited, a member of the Linde Group, and AGL Energy (AGL). Elgas is the biggest marketer of LPG (Liquefied Propane Gas) in Australia and operates Australia's largest LPG storage facility in Sydney. The company had sales of around EUR 255 million in 2007. Linde, gases sales in their South Pacific region increased by 11 percent to EUR 755 million in 2007.
"This transaction will enable us to strengthen our position as the leading supplier of gases in Australia," explained Professor Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle, Chief Executive Officer of Linde AG. We will profit from the synergies between the LPG business and our strong industrial gases business. We can leverage the Elgas infrastructure and management to expand and improve our combined LPG business across Australia and New Zealand.
Linde Enters JV with Sinopec Sub 2008.11 The Linde Group has entered into a joint venture with SINOPEC Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited (FPCL), a subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC), for the long-term supply of industrial gases to customers in the province of Fujian, China. This collaboration will result in a capital outlay of around EUR 100 million.
The joint venture company, Fujian Linde-FPCL Gases Company Limited, will be located in Quangang Petrochemical Industrial Park in Quanzhou, Fujian, and will produce and distribute nitrogen, oxygen and argon from that site. Each of the partners, FPCL and Linde Gas (Hong Kong) Limited, a fully-owned Linde subsidiary, has a 50 percent share in the new joint venture.
"This joint venture will create the largest industrial gases company in the fast-growing province of Fujian," explained Dr. Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. "This is the region of China in which our gases operations began. The collaboration is a further example of our long-term growth strategy in the emerging Asian nations, underpinning our position as number one in the Chinese gases market."
Fujian Linde-FPCL Gases Company Limited is currently building two ASUs on the Quanzhou site. Each of the plants has a capacity of 40,000 normal cubic meters oxygen per hour (Nm3/hr). The principal function of these plants will be to supply air gases via pipeline to Fujian Integrated Refining and Ethylene Project, a large-scale refinery and petrochemical project in Quangang. The plants will also produce LOX, LIN and liquid argon (LAR) as well as raw krypton and raw xenon for the regional market in Fujian.
Linde Starts Up ASU in Wisconsin 2008.11 Linde North America has started up production at its newest ASU, located in Beloit, WI. The Beloit plant produces over 700 tpd of liquid oxygen (LOX) and nitrogen (LIN), which are then trucked to hospitals, food processors, metals and chemicals manufacturers and independent gases distributors in WI, IL and IA. The plant employs some 30 people.
Pat Murphy, President of Linde North America, said, "Linde is investing for growth where the market conditions are right. With this plant we have established a supply source in Wisconsin that enables us to move closer to our customers. We've seen excellent growth in Wisconsin and the greater Chicago area, and we made this investment to ensure that we can securely supply our customers. This location gives us access to many of the region's major highways, allowing us to be more responsive to customers' needs."
The Beloit plant, Linde's largest ASU in Wisconsin, is the second such US facility Linde has put into full production this year. Linde, nationwide network of ASUs serves customers ranging in size from small family businesses to multi-billion dollar corporations.
Linde Supplies Oxyfuel to Outokumpu 2008.11 The Linde Group is supplying international stainless steel producer Outokumpu with a new flameless oxyfuel preheating system for its ferrochrome converter in Tornio, Finland. The self-cooled flameless oxyfuel system will replace the existing conventional water-cooled oxyfuel system, providing Outokumpu with more economical and environmentally friendly production. Finland, first flameless oxyfuel system installation will provide Outokumpu's Tornio Works with reduced heating cycles, greater energy efficiency and up to 50 percent lower fuel consumption and CO2emissions.
"Flameless oxyfuel delivers a simple, compact and low weight installation as compared to an air fuel system with a recuperator or regenerative solution. It is seen as the best available technology for heating and not only allows for ultra low NOx emissions, but brings extended refractory life through more uniform temperature distribution," said Joachim von Schéele, Marketing Manager, Metals and Glass Industries, Linde Gases Division.
"It is Outokumpu's policy to follow and implement technology that decreases fuel consumption and CO2 and NOx emissions. Linde's flameless oxyfuel system is a compelling technology that fulfills this need. Outokumpu is now investing in the flameless oxyfuel system and will continue to utilize technologies that increase output while saving energy and reducing emissions," said Mauri Kauppi, Steel Melting Shop and Hot Rolling Mill Manager, Outokumpu.
Linde has installed 30 flameless oxyfuel systems over the past five years, primarily in reheat and annealing furnaces, some using low calorific fuels. For drying and preheating of ladles and converters, flameless oxyfuel has already been successfully used at five other major steel works.
New in H2 Materials 2008.11 Researchers in Greece report design of a new material that almost meets the US Department of Energy (DOE) 2010 goals for hydrogen storage and could help eliminate a key roadblock to practical hydrogen-powered vehicles. Their study, "Pillared Graphene: A New 3-D Network Nanostructure for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage," appears in the October 8th issue of American Chemical Society, "Nano Letters" and describes a way of safely storing hydrogen.
Georgios K. Dimitrakakis, Emmanuel Tylianakis, and George E. Froudakis note that researchers long have sought ways of using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to store hydrogen in fuel cell vehicles. CNTs are minute cylinders of carbon about 50,000 times thinner than the width of a human hair. Scientists hope to use CNTs as miniature storage tanks for hydrogen in the coming generation of fuel cell vehicles. In the new study, the researchers used computer modeling to design a unique hydrogen-storage structure consisting of parallel graphene sheets — layers of carbon just one atom thick — stabilized by vertical columns of CNTs. They also added lithium ions to the material's design to enhance its storage capacity. The scientists' calculations showed that their so-called "pillared graphene" could theoretically store up to 41 grams of hydrogen per liter, almost matching the DOE's target (45 grams of hydrogen per liter) for transportation applications. "Developers are challenged to fabricate this material and validate its storage capacity," the researchers note.
Oil Upgrader Selects Praxair 2008.11 North West Upgrading Inc. has selected Praxair Canada Inc., the largest industrial gas supplier in Canada, to provide the industrial gases needed for its heavy oil Upgrader in Sturgeon County, Alberta, Canada. North West's process eliminates production of coke, uses gasification to make hydrogen from the heaviest components of bitumen, and enables the capture of pure carbon dioxide. Under the agreement, Praxair will build a large state-of-the-art ASU, equipped with advanced process controls and energy-efficient process cycles.
Plasmas for Nuclear Power 2008.11 Scientists at Korean Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) in South Korea have successfully generated the first plasmas in the core of their new Tokamak, an ultra-sophisticated physics-based instrument whose purpose is to generate plasmas that make possible the conditions required for controlled nuclear fusion of atoms. The success concludes the installation and start-up phase of this unique technical apparatus. Doing so marks a significant milestone in the development of the project which, combined with other international programs, contributes to improving the knowledge and mastery of fusion reactions, designed to generate electrical energy.
The NFRI (National Fusion Research Institute) in South Korea has developed the Tokamak. Fusion reactions such as this, which also occur in the sun, release a large amount of energy that can be converted into electrical energy. In order to obtain the very powerful electromagnetic fields necessary for the confinement of this physical reaction, superconducting magnets must be used, which only function at extremely low temperatures. A system of liquefying and distributing helium enables such temperatures to be maintained within the Tokamak. Air Liquide is a partner in the KSTAR project. They designed and built a helium system for the Tokamak earlier this year. This system incorporates a refrigerator, which cools the superconducting magnets of the experimental reactor to a temperature of minus 269°C, close to absolute zero. Air Liquide's expertise in mastering ultra-low temperatures enables the Group to cooperate in numerous scientific projects relating to particle physics and the applications of supraconductivity, including work on CERN's Large Hadron Collider.
Praxair & Thyssenkrupp Sign Deal 2008.11 Praxair has signed an agreement with ThyssenKrupp to build a 400 tpd on-site ASU to supply oxygen, nitrogen and argon to ThyssenKrupp's new state-of-the-art carbon and stainless steel processing facilities currently under construction in Mobile, AL. The new plant will also generate liquefied industrial gas for the growing merchant customer base in the region. ThyssenKrupp Steel USA and ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, LLC, are constructing the $4.2 billion manufacturing and processing facilities in the US as part of the company's NAFTA strategy and an integral part of ThyssenKrupp's overall global market strategy.
"ThyssenKrupp's investment in new steel capacity in the southeastern United States is a critical step in the execution of their North American strategy, and Praxair will be providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient plant to support the project," said Ted Trumpp, Vice President, East Region, for Praxair's North American Industrial Gases organization. "This new plant will also strengthen Praxair's already strong presence in the lower Alabama and Gulf States region," Trumpp added.
Praxair Builds in China 2008.11 Praxair (China) Investment Co., Ltd. has signed a long-term supply contract with Anhui HuaYi Chemical Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Shanghai HuaYi Co., Ltd., one of the largest chemical groups in China supplying fine and specialty chemicals. Under this contract, Praxair China will build another of the largest single-train ASUs in Asia. The plant, due to start up in early 2011, will supply 3,000 tpd of oxygen for the Wuwei coking project of Anhui HuaYi, which is located in Anhui Province. At present, Praxair is con,tructing a similar sized plant for another Chinese customer in Jiangsu Province. Both plants will supply oxygen to gasification units, which will provide feedstock to the chemical industry.
"The Wuwei coking project is a long-term investment by Anhui HuaYi and we are confident that its growth potential will lead to a future expansion of the partnership between the HuaYi Group and Praxair China, said David Chow," President of Praxair China.
Praxair Provides Reactor Cooling 2008.11 Praxair China, a subsidiary of Praxair, Inc., has signed a contract to supply liquid nitrogen and a state-of-the-art nitrogen cooling system, called NCOOLTM, to the Jiangsu Defeng Pharmaceutical & Chemical Co., Ltd. (Defeng). Defeng produces active pharmaceutical ingredients and will introduce a new product, which requires rapid cooling to below -30°C in a large volume reactor. The NCOOL indirect cooling system features the highly efficient Praxair cryogenic heat exchanger. Since this cooling system uses the heat exchange from nitrogen rather than mechanical refrigeration, it has minimal moving parts and does not rely on halogenated coolants (CFCs or other ozone-depleting substances). The NCOOL heat exchanger is used for precision cooling of production freeze-dryers and chemical reactors. "This new application of the NCOOLTM technology opens up another segment of the fast growing cryogenic refrigeration market in the pharmaceutical industry," said David Chow, President of Praxair China.
Praxair Selected for Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2008.11 For the sixth consecutive year, Praxair, Inc. has been selected as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. Praxair is the only industrial gases company to be included in the 2008 Index. Member,hip in the Index ranks Praxair among the top 10 percent of chemical companies worldwide in terms of sustainability criteria. Only 320 of the 2,500 largest companies in 57 industry sectors worldwide are included in the Index.
The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index was launched in 1999 as the first equity benchmark to track the performance of leading corporations that are committed to sustainability on a global scale. Corporations are selected for the index after a thorough assessment of a wide range of economic, environmental and social criteria. Among the areas evaluated are corporate governance, environmental performance, risk management, supply-chain standards and labor practices.
"The selection of Praxair for this global index is a tribute to the 28,000 Praxair employees around the world who implement the sustainable economic, social, energy-efficient and environmental practices that are the foundation of Praxair's long-term business success," said Praxair Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Angel.
Safety Alert 2008.11 The National Propane Gas Association is warning of a potentially hazardous situation regarding propane cylinders with brass valves. Persons engaged in the illegal manufacturing of Methamphetamines (Crank) are using propane cylinders to store the corrosive agent Anhydrous Ammonia. This chemical (used legitimately in agriculture) is corrosive to brass and other metals causing a deterioration in the metal of the valve body or its components. Under pressure this could cause the valve to explode from the body of the cylinder, leading to fires, explosions and injury.
Some cylinders used for storing anhydrous ammonia illegally are being returned to propane cylinder exchange sites, putting potentially damaged cylinders into the hands of consumers. Propane refilling stations and exchange services have been advised to watch out for these cylinders, but an unknown number of them may be in use. These occurrences have happened in a number of US cities so these cylinders could be anywhere. You can tell if your cylinder has been used for this purpose by the existence of a greenish corroded material on the valve end of the cylinder. If you have such a cylinder, immediately contact local authorities (fire, hazmat) for assistance.
For more information and updates please contact the National Propane Gas Association.
Servomex Gets a New Look 2008.11 Servomex has introduced a revamped look, including a distinctive new company logo and a redesigned website at www.servomex.com, to underline the company's position as the global expert in gas analysis. A revised, intuitive system of product names is being introduced to help users identify the right products and services more easily. Servomex recently opened three global business centers in EMEA, Americas and Asia Pacific regions and made key appointments to its global sales teams (see Named in the News, CryoGas International, August/September 2008, pp.20-21). The company has also restructured its business operations into three distinct divisions, Hydrocarbon Processing, Industrial Gases, and OEM components, and opened a new technical center in Crowborough, UK, that merges the company's production, management and R&D facilities. Adding to its product line, Servomex launched its new SERVOTOUGH-Oxy and SERVOPRO MultiExact gas analyzers at the ISA EXPO 2008 tradeshow in Houston, TX.
The Switch — Propane to Hydrogen 2008.11 Turbine Truck Engines, Inc. (TTE) reported that the company has successfully operated its full-scale, fifth generation, prototype engine utilizing compressed hydrogen as the fuel source. The company also reported that the test produced zero emissions and required absolutely no modification to switch the Detonation Cycle Gas Turbine Engine from propane to hydrogen.
Michael Rouse, CEO of Turbine Truck Engines, states, "This is another major milestone for TTE. The company is moving for"ward in a significant way that is catching the eyes of serious investors. Clean air technology of this magnitude is something the world urgently needs." /> "One hundred percent renewable hydrogen gas-from-water technology would literally enable anyone to make their own fuel and power their Turbine Truck Engine using water as the basic ingredient. The test results prove that turbine engine technology, utilizing hydrogen as a fuel source, has the least environmental impact due to zero emissions resulting in a truly green application, said Mark Johnson, President of HGeneratorsTM, the hydrogen gas-from-water electrolysis generator company that supports this application.
Westair Gases & Equipment Expands 2008.11 WestAir Gases & Equipment, headquartered in San Diego, CA, has completed the con,truction of three new facilities and now operates from eleven locations within California and Arizona.
WestAir's new 28,000 sq ft, ISO-9001-2000 certified facility in National City, CA, includes the installation of Weldcoa, latest fast-fill plant technology, a FDA certified specialty gases lab, a central warehouse with a fully automated inventory control system, centralized purchasing/distribution and customer service order entry departments. West-Air has also installed the latest version of UPS, automated distribution system in its entire delivery fleet.
In Chula Vista, CA, a new 3,700 sq ft branch store features a large, customer-friendly products display area, a welding demonstration room, convenient cylinder dock, propane pumping, and video product information.
In April 2008, WestAir purchased the assets of Advanced Gas Products and Welding Supplies. Subsequent to that acquisition, WestAir acquired a new, highly visual, and convenient facility in Lake Havasu City, AZ.
According to Ron Savage, WestAir, General Manager, investments in these new strategic branch locations, automated fill-plant, and automated warehouse and distribution systems are all part of WestAir's focus on serving customers, improving operational efficiencies and realizing long-range growth plans. WestAir is privately owned and operated by the Castiglione family of San Diego. Andy Castiglione is currently Chairman and Steve Castiglione is President of WestAir.
