ValvTechnologies Names Edward Ferris as Vice President of Human Resources

ValvTechnologies, Inc. has named Edward Ferris as Vice President of Human Resources, announced company President Kevin Hunt.

Based in Houston, Ferris will report to Kevin Hunt and be responsible for global human resource management, organization development and training, and environmental health and safety. In this role, he will lead the development of the organizational capability required to support the continuing growth and globalization of the company.

Ferris previously served as Senior Vice President of Corporate and Organization Development at Del Global Technologies Corporation. Additionally, he has held executive human resource positions at ABB, General Signal Corporation and British Telecom. His roles included human resource management of locations in more than 44 countries on six continents.

Pentair Valves & Controls Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

Pentair Valves & Controls delivered first quarter 2013 sales of $586 million, down 3% versus the prior year quarter excluding a 1% unfavorable impact from foreign exchange. Backlog increased 1% to $1.4 billion compared to fourth quarter 2012.

Energy sales, which accounted for roughly 60% of revenue, declined 3%. Sales to the oil & gas and mining industries both grew 2% while sales to the power industry declined 6%. Industrial sales, which accounted for roughly 40% of revenue, declined 9% on continued weakness in Asia.

Pentair Valves & Controls delivered first quarter adjusted operating income of $59 million, down 2% compared to $61 million in the same quarter last year. First quarter 2013 adjusted operating margins increased 10 basis points to 10.1%. Price and productivity more than offset inflation during the quarter. Including inventory step-up and customer backlog, repositioning and other charges, Pentair Valves & Controls reported a GAAP operating loss of $19 million in the first quarter.

David J. Linton Resigns as President of Curtiss-Wright Flow Control

Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that David J. Linton has resigned as President of its Flow Control segment, effective May 6, 2013, in order to pursue other opportunities. By mutual agreement, he is stepping down as part of the reorganization of the operational management structure as announced in October 2012.

President and COO David C. Adams will assume day-to-day management of Flow Control until a permanent replacement is named. As COO, Adams has responsibility for Flow Control as well as the Company's other two operating segments, Controls and Surface Technologies.

"We thank David Linton for his contributions to the Flow Control segment, which he joined as President in May 2004," said Martin R. Benante, Chairman and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "We wish him the best in his new endeavors."

"It has been a privilege for me to work with many fine colleagues at Curtiss-Wright," said David Linton. "I am proud of the company's many accomplishments to date, and look forward to its continued success."

Flowserve Corporation Reports First Quarter 2013 Results

Bookings in Flowserve’s Flow Control Division (FCD) for the first quarter of 2013 increased to $430.6 million, up $50.5 million or 13.3%, or up 13.8% excluding negative currency effects of approximately $2 million. FCD sales for the first quarter of 2013 increased to $384.0 million, up $20.1 million or 5.5%, or up 6.1% excluding negative currency effects of approximately $2 million.

FCD gross profit for the first quarter of 2013 increased to $133.9 million, up $6.7 million or 5.3%. Gross margin for the first quarter of 2013 was essentially flat at 34.9%.

FCD operating income for the first quarter of 2013 increased to $87.2 million, up $31.5 million or 56.6%, or up 8.8% excluding the $26.6 million net gain on the Indian joint venture transactions. First quarter 2013 operating margin increased 740 basis points to 22.7%, or up 50 basis points to 15.8%, excluding the impact of the Indian joint venture transactions which included SG&A of $1.7 million.

Crane Co. Announces CEO Succession Plan

Crane Co. announced that Eric C. Fast, CEO, will retire from Crane Co. in January 2014. Mr. Fast joined Crane in 1999 as President and COO and was promoted to CEO in January 2001. He will be succeeded by Max H. Mitchell, currently President and COO. Mr. Mitchell, 49, joined Crane in 2004 as Vice President of Operational Excellence, was promoted to President of Fluid Handling in 2005, became Executive Vice President and COO in May 2011, and was appointed President of Crane Co. in January 2013.

Fast will remain a member of the Board of Directors until January 2014, and Mr. Mitchell will replace him on the Board at that time.

Powell Valves Names Tim Fries New Vice-President Sales & Marketing

“I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, Tim Fries has been promoted to Vice President Sales & Marketing,” Powell Executive Vice-President David B. “Brandy” Cowart said in a statement released today.

“Tim has been a valuable member of the Powell Sales team and I am confident that Tim’s successes will continue with these new responsibilities,”said Cowart. “Please join me in offering Tim your support.”

Previously Fries served as regional sales manager for the Midwest & Northeast.  

Emerson Opens Americas Headquarters for Valve Automation Technologies & New Houston Manufacturing Facility

Emerson Process Management has opened its new $30 million Americas headquarters for valve automation technologies and a new, highly automated and sophisticated manufacturing facility in Houston to expand its services for the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.

Over the coming years, Emerson also plans to create 126 new jobs to go along with another $9.5 million capital investment to accommodate anticipated growth.

With the oil and gas industry representing 40% of Emerson Process Management’s sales, this new headquarters and manufacturing complex extends Emerson’s presence in Houston, which also includes the new $34 million Emerson Industry Center for Hydrocarbon and Energy that opened in early 2012.

The new valve automation complex encompasses 215,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space.

Metso Increases Valve Manufacturing Capacity in China

Metso has entered into an agreement to sell its shares of its joint venture company Shanghai-Neles Jamesbury Valve Co., Ltd (SNJ) to Shanghai Electric International Economic & Trading Co., Ltd (SEIC), which is the other joint venture partner. At the same time, good cooperation continues between Metso, SNJ and SEIC as companies have agreed to several future cooperation areas.

Metso will move its Jamesbury valves production from SNJ to Metso Technology Center in Shanghai. The change from a joint-venture based operation to directly controlled Jamesbury business is in line with Metso’s long-term strategy to strengthen its valve production and service capabilities in growing markets. Chinese market is world’s second largest valve market with significant growth potential.

SNJ was established 1990 to produce valves and actuators under Jamesbury product name for Chinese markets. Metso and SEIC owned both 50% of SNJ. SNJ employs currently 284 people. The final closing of the transaction requires regulatory approvals by Chinese authorities and is estimated to take place during the second quarter of 2013.

Emerson Process Management Reports Second Quarter 2013 Results

Emerson Process Management sales grew 8%, as global oil and gas, chemical, and power industry investment remained solid. Underlying sales increased 9% with currency translation deducting 1%, led by 10% growth in the systems and solutions business. By region, 14% growth in Asia benefited from strong project activity in Australia; investment in the North Sea region and Russia drove 7% growth in Europe; and the U.S. decreased 1%, as higher natural gas inventories contributed to slower investment. Segment margin of 20.0% increased 170 basis points, as volume leverage, cost containment, and currency gains offset unfavorable mix from lower maintenance investment by customers. Growth is expected to remain stable in the near term despite difficult comparisons and moderating end markets, particularly North America.

Flowserve Signs Collaborative Agreement with Advanced Diamond Technologies

Flowserve Corporation has signed a collaborative agreement with Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. (ADT) to become the exclusive developer and supplier of diamond coated hard faces for its mechanical seals. When applied to Flowserve base materials, the ultrananocrystalline-structured diamond (UNCD®) coating developed by ADT produces an exceptionally hard surface with significantly improved friction and wear characteristics. This is particularly beneficial in services requiring protection from slurry, dry running conditions and resistance to chemical corrosion.

Flowserve and ADT, a spinoff company from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, have worked together since the 1980s to develop, refine and perfect diamond coating for mechanical seal faces.

ITT Announces Solid Results for 2013 First Quarter

First-quarter revenue in ITT’s Industrial Process segment; which designs and manufactures industrial pumps and valves for the oil and gas, chemical, mining and industrial markets; was up 14% to $257 million. The increase reflects a 28% increase in organic global oil and gas shipments, as well as the impact from the company’s successful acquisition of Bornemann Pumps, partially offset by mining declines in emerging markets. Organic revenue was flat compared to the prior year.

Adjusted operating income increased 19% to $27 million, reflecting strong operating productivity and favorable sales mix that was partially offset by Bornemann Pumps impacts and the recent currency devaluation in Venezuela.

Emerson Process Management Earns China Electric Power Technology Award

The Tuoketuo Power Plant – the largest coal-fired plant in China – and Emerson Process Management have received the China Electric Power Technology Award. The Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE) presents the award annually to companies, institutes or individuals that have played an important role advancing China’s electric power industry.

Emerson and the 10-unit, 5,400-MW plant, operated by Inner Mongolia Datang International Tuoketuo Power Generation Co. Ltd., received the award for significant performance improvements at Tuoketuo Unit 7 (600 MW) following implementation of Emerson’s Unit Response Optimization (URO) technology. These improvements, achieved during the first year of operation, included a 1.0 percent per minute average ramp rate improvement, 85 percent improvement in Automatic Generation Control (AGC) performance, 30-40 percent reduction in steam pressure overshoot and a 73 percent increase (¥547,000 RMB or $82,000 USD) in average monthly revenue.

Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Curtiss-Wright Flow Control (CWFC) sales for the first quarter of 2013 were $311 million, an increase of $44 million, or 16%, over the comparable prior year period, aided by recent acquisitions as well as strength in several of the commercial markets. Within the power generation market, sales rose sharply due to strong aftermarket demand and technology upgrades supporting existing nuclear operating reactors as a result of a growing installed base, higher instrumentation and controls orders and solid sales of NETCO SNAP-IN® product used in spent fuel management..

Operating income in the first quarter of 2013 was $24 million, an increase of approximately $6 million, or 30% from the comparable prior year period, while operating margin was up 90 basis points to 7.8%. First quarter operating income from recent acquisitions was positive overall; however they were 100 basis points dilutive to operating margin. Excluding the effects of acquisitions, segment operating income increased 27%, while operating margin increased 190 basis points to 8.8% compared to the prior year period. The increase in operating income and operating margin is primarily due to higher volumes and improved profitability in the power generation business serving existing U.S. operating reactors as well as savings generated from prior year restructuring initiatives.

Allagash International Named SBA Small Business Exporter of the Year

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the winner of its annual Small Business Exporter of the Year Award for 2013. Allagash International, Inc. has been selected to receive this prestigious award.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and recognizing those who work so hard to achieve success is truly an honor,” said Marilyn Geroux, SBA District Director for Maine. “It is a particular privilege to present this award to Allagash International because it has increased sales both domestically and in today’s ever more competitive global marketplace alike,” added Geroux.

Company founder Terry Ingram and Allagash International will be honored at an SBA celebration luncheon on June 4, 2013 at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.

Metso Reports First Quarter 2013 Financial Results

Net sales in Metso’s Automation segment were comparable to those seen in the first quarter of 2012 and totaled 184 million euros. Net sales in the Flow Control business decreased 5 percent, while those in the Process Automation Systems business increased 10 percent year-on-year. Net sales in the services business were similar to those seen in the first quarter of 2012 and accounted for 45 percent of the segment’s net sales.

Automation’s EBITA before non-recurring items improved 44 percent year-on-year, to 16 million euros, i.e. 8.8 percent of net sales. The Flow Control and services businesses had a positive impact thanks to improved gross margins, while Process Automation Systems was largely unchanged year-on-year.

Automation’s operating profit (EBIT) was 15 million euros, i.e. 8.1 percent of net sales.

The segment’s return on operative capital employed (ROCE) was 19.9 percent (15.0%).

Metso’s Jamesbury Valves Selected by Heurtey Petrochem for Russian Refinery Expansion

Heurtey Petrochem has selected Metso to supply an upgrade and expansion project at the Tuapse refinery situated in the Krasnodar region on the Black Sea coast in Russia. Metso will be the main on/off valves supplier to Heurtey Petrochem, which has been contracted to manufacture and supply refining heaters.

Commissioned in 1929, the Tuapse Refinery, specializes in the production of motor fuel. It is the oldest refinery in the JSC Rosneft Group, the leading refinery in Russia’s petroleum industry. The expansion project, scheduled for completion in 2014, is a broader Refinery Modernization Program initiated by Rosneft in 2008.

Heurtey Petrochem acts as EPC Contractor for the Tuapse Refinery Expansion and Upgrade project. Heurtey Petrochem and Metso have been collaborating on a number of significant projects around the world for several years. The most recent of these are in Serbia and Abu Dhabi. Heurtey Petrochem acts as EPC Contractor for the Tuapse Refinery Expansion and Upgrade project. Metso is Heurtey Petrochem’s supplier of on/off and safety valves for cracking furnaces.

Rotork Reports First Quarter Results

Rotork Controls order intake in the first quarter was 7.4% higher than the prior year. The Indian power market has not returned to pre-2012 levels and Europe remains subdued. However, other markets such as the USA have performed well. Project visibility supports confidence that activity levels should increase as the year progresses. The IQ3 is receiving positive feedback from customers and Rotork continues to ramp up production. The integration of Schischek, acquired in January 2013, is going well and the business is performing as expected.

Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Receives Haf604 Registration Confirmation from China’s NNSA

Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company announced that its Enertech business unit has received confirmation of its registration with China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA), in accordance with HAF604 regulations. The HAF604 certification is required for all equipment and components that are designed and manufactured outside of China.

The HAF604 registration confirmation covers the design and manufacturing activities of the Enertech safety-related Class 1, 2, and 3 NozzleCheck valve. This certification qualifies Enertech to supply these valves to civil nuclear power plants currently in operation, under construction, or planned in the People’s Republic of China.

Enertech currently has contracts with Westinghouse Electric Company to supply safety-related NozzleCheck valves for two Westinghouse AP1000® pressurized water reactors currently being built in Sanmen and Haiyang, China.

Garlock Engineer Introduces Science of Sealing to RIT Students

They help make consumer products like medicine, soda and water safe. They protect factory workers around the world from harmful chemical spills and leaks. And they’re also one of the most versatile, important industrial products ever designed.

So what are they? They’re industrial seals, the kind made by Garlock in Palmyra, NY.

Recently, Garlock Senior Product Development Engineer Aydin Aykanat, PhD, explained the science and technology behind seals at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rochester, NY. He was invited to present to RIT chemical engineering students who wanted to learn more about the sealing technology and manufacturing processes.

Garlock recently returned the favor, and invited RIT’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers Association (AIChE) members to visit the company’s headquarters for a factory tour and engineering lunch meeting.

“It was a great way to network with prospective new chemical engineering professionals,” says Dr. Aykanat. “There are some very impressive students at RIT and Garlock looks forward to one day having them on our staff innovating new seals and moving our company forward.”  

Spirax Sarco Product Named Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2013 Product of the Year Finalist

Spirax Sarco’s Steam DesignPro 6.0 software was recently chosen as one of the finalists in the Product of the Year contest conducted by Consulting Specifying Engineer Magazine (CSE) and is among three products in the Design, Modeling, and Analysis category.

In its ninth year, Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s Product of the Year contest is an award competition for new products in the HVAC, fire, electrical, and plumbing engineering industry. The annual readers-choice Product of the Year awards were created to provide Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s readers with information about the top new product in their fields.

Voting started on April 8, 2013 and will end on Friday, June 28, 2013. Winners will be announced in the September 2013 issue of Consulting-Specifying Engineers Magazine and online.