Movers & Shakers: GE to divest Water & Process Technologies business

Nov. 5, 2016

GE Water & Process Technologies will continue to operate normally throughout the selling process with a target sale period of mid-2017.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Contracts

GE to divest Water & Process Technologies business

GE announced it was exploring sale options for its Water & Process Technologies business in a strategic move to reposition the business for the future. GE reports growth and stability of the company, and plans the sale to continue this trend. The Water & Process Technologies company will continue to operate normally through the bidding, vetting and selling of the business. The target sale period for GE Water & Process Technologies is mid-2017.

Schneider Electric acquires MaxEAM to strengthen Enterprise Asset Management

Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation, announced the acquisition of MaxFAM, a software company with complementary applications that extend Avantis.PRO Enterprise Asset Management. The acquisition further solidifies the portfolio and adds valuable domain expertise to Schneider Electric’s existing team. This acquisition delivers additional value to industrial organizations seeking to maximize return on assets.

Awards, Milestones & Celebrations

Schaeffler scoops the 2016 Materialica Design + Technology Award 

Schaeffler received the 2016 Materialica Design + Technology Award in the Surface & Technology category for its innovative Sensotect coating system at the international Materialica trade show in Munich. Sensotect is an innovative thin coating technology with which Schaeffler is introducing intelligent coating systems to the automotive and industrial sectors for the first time.

The jury, which was made up of representatives from science and industry, gave the Sensotect coating system the most prestigious prize, the Best-of Award. Sensotect allows multi-functional surfaces that are characterized in particular by their sensor properties to be created without affecting the design envelope – in other words, components that are coated with it become sensors in their own right.

Metso continues ranking at the Leadership level in Climate Change evaluation

Metso continues to be included in CDP’s Climate Change evaluation at the Leadership level with an A- ranking on a scale of A-D. This year’s evaluation covered a total of 5,800 companies globally and the global average ranking was C. CDP’s evaluation defines companies ranked at the Leadership level as presenting the best practices to advance environmental stewardship. Leadership level companies understand the risks and opportunities related to climate change and have taken actions to capitalize on these risks.

Hach Selects Stibo Systems’ MDM Solution 

Stilbo Systems, a global leader in multidomain Master Data Management (MDM) solutions, announced that Hach, a global manufacturer and distributer of analytical instruments, software and reagents used to test the quality of water, has chosen Stibo Systems’ Master Data Management platform STEP to create an Enterprise PIM Center of Excellence (COE) for participating business groups. Using Stibo Systems’ MDM solution, Hach will integrate and centralize product information management (PIM) solutions across the business groups in just 24 months, so relevant data, services and processes can be shared among each while maintaining their autonomy for their marketing initiatives.

Appointments

The Coca-Cola Company adds new chief information officer

The Coca-Cola Company named Barry Simpson its new Chief Information Officer. He previously served as head of the company’s Global Business Unit IT Services. In his new role, Simpson will oversee all of the company’s global information technology strategy, services and operations.

A nearly 30-year IT industry veteran, Simpson joined the Coca-Cola system in 2008 as Group CIO of the Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) Group, a major Coca-Cola bottler based in Sydney, Australia.  In this role he was responsible for the development and implementation of IT strategy for the CCA Group across multiple lines of business in six Asia-Pacific markets.  He joined The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta in January 2016, where he has been responsible for overseeing IT services provided to all of the company’s business units worldwide. Simpson succeeds long-time Coca-Cola CIO Ed Steinike, who passed away earlier this year after a brief illness.  Simpson has served as the company’s interim CIO during this period.

LiquiGlide appoints new head of new business development

LiquiGlide Inc. announced the appointment of Greg Keenan as the company’s head of new business development. With more than two decades of experience commercializing technologies in the chemicals, energy, agriculture and clean technology industries, Keenan will lead the company’s go-to-market strategies and commercialization efforts, with a focus on industrial coating applications.

Before joining LiquiGlide, Keenan served as the North American director of biomaterial solutions at Ingredion Incorporated, a global leader in biomaterial innovation and application development that acquired Penford Corporation in 2015. Prior to the acquisition, he was vice president of new business development for Penford Products, the industrial market division of Penford Corporation, where he was responsible for identifying, developing and executing new business opportunities in specialty bioproducts markets.

ALECTIA strengthens process division with new senior vice president

The engineering and consulting company ALECTIA has hired Thomas B. Olsen as senior vice president to lead its process division, which advises some of the world’s largest breweries, food processors, dairies and pharmaceutical companies. The former CEO of Nordic Sugar will be responsible for strengthening ALECTIA’s position globally.

Olsen brings more than 20 years of experience from international service and processing companies with him. The food industry has been a focal point in his career, which started at The Danish Distillers in 1988. Olsen joins ALECTIA from the consulting firm AgroTech, where he was CEO.

Expansions & Relocations

Gannett Fleming expands to Pacific Northwest

Gannett Fleming, a multinational leader in engineering and infrastructure solutions, expanded its operations to the Pacific Northwest with the opening of a new office in downtown Seattle, Washington. Gannett Fleming plans, designs, and delivers complex transportation networks, transit systems, maintenance facilities, and water resource facilities through both traditional and alternative delivery methods. Additionally, the firm brings its construction management talent and sought-after dam and geotechnical engineering expertise to the region.

Gannett Fleming’s new Seattle office will accommodate its growing northwest workforce; future talent will include designers for transit systems, transit stations, maintenance facilities, water resources, and dams, as well as industrial, structural, bridge, civil, and geotechnical project managers and engineers.

Greenkote adds major anti-corrosion coating capacity in Ohio

Greenkote provider of advanced anti-corrosion metal coatings, has more than doubled the capacity at its headquarters production facility in Brook Park, Ohio, enabling it to process more than 150 tons of parts per month. The facility will also provide for the application of specialized topcoats and sealers to the Greenkote coatings to further enhance the coating performance. The expansion comes in response to significantly increasing demand from the industry.

Sponsored Recommendations

2024 Manufacturing Trends — Unpacking AI, Workforce, and Cybersecurity

The world of manufacturing is changing, and Generative AI is one of the many change agents. The 2024 State of Smart Manufacturing Report takes a deep dive into how Generative ...

The Journey to Operational Excellence: Quality-Driven Compliance

Learn firsthand from top industry analysts how to navigate regulatory compliance (i.e. FSMA) & food safety audits in manufacturing.

Cold Chain Tracking with FactoryTalk PharmaSuite

Manage thermo-sensitive materials, optimize production & reduce waste

State of Smart Manufacturing Report Series

The world of manufacturing is changing, and Generative AI is one of the many change agents. The 2024 State of Smart Manufacturing Report takes a deep dive into how Generative ...