Highland Foundry’s Wade Marquardt, Sales and Engineering Manager, won the recent Robert G. Shepherd Best Paper on “Continuing the Conversation - Naturally Pressurized Fill System.” Marquardt presented the paper at the National Technical and Operating (T&O) Conference, the Steel Founder' Society of America's (SFSA) flagship industry event and the world’s premier steel casting meeting, in Chicago this past December.

The paper builds on John Campbell’s theories of minimized air entrainment and melt surface turbulence in the casting process to drive “first time through” casting quality, to levels previously thought unachievable.

Emerson has acquired KnowledgeNet (KNet) software from Tunisia-based Integration Objects. KNet’s unique analytics application software accelerates digital transformation initiatives for process and hybrid industries.

KNet will be integrated with Emerson’s Plantweb digital ecosystem. In addition, Emerson will hire several team members from Integration Objects and open a new branch office in Tunis, Tunisia, to support the integration of KNet.

Team, Inc. appointed Susan M. Ball as executive vice president and CFO. Ball will succeed Greg L. Boane, who will now serve as a special advisor to Amerino Gatti, Team’s CEO.

Prior to joining Team, Ball served for more than 12 years at CVR Energy, Inc. in various roles of increasing responsibility. In 2012, she was appointed as CFO and treasurer for CVR Energy and its subsidiaries, CVR Refining, LP and CVR Partners, LP. Ball is a CPA and has more than 30 years of experience in the finance and accounting industry.

The Weir Group is investing an additional $15 million in its Newton, MS manufacturing facility as part of a total $50-million plan. When the investment program is complete employee numbers will be more than 400, a 60% increase from 2016.

The Newton facility is one of Weir’s largest manufacturing operations. The expansion is slated to be complete by August 2019.