Editor's Note: Each week, Water & Wastes Digest will post an aggregate of business news briefs and networking news items to keep you informed on facility openings, business mergers and purchases, changes in personnel and award notifications, among others in the water and wastewater treatment industries. If you have business news briefs you would like included in this weekly round up, please email the press release, photo and a link to the post on your website to [email protected] with the subject line "Business News Round Up." One news item per company per week will be posted.
Danfoss Accepting Entries for EnVisioneer of the Year Award Competition
Danfoss is accepting entries for its eleventh annual EnVisioneer of the Year award competition.
The competition recognizes North American original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), building owners, municipalities, contractors and end users that have introduced a new product, opened a new facility, or invested in a building or system upgrade in the past 18 months using Danfoss products or solutions to realize significant energy and environmental savings.
Interested participants may enter the competition by submitting an application by July 15, 2020. Applications will be reviewed and selected by a panel of third-party judges representing various disciplines, according to Danfoss.
Core & Main Completes Acquisition of R&B Co.
Core & Main LP announced that it has closed on its previously announced agreement to acquire R&B Co., based in San Jose, California.
“With the acquisition of R&B, we grow our presence in the California market, where Core & Main has been underrepresented, and we do it with the great team at R&B. We value their excellent reputation and commitment to customers. We want to build on their long standing customer relationships and enhance the business with complementary products and services,” said Jack Schaller, president of Core & Main Waterworks.
Grundfos Strengthens Future Foundation
In 2019, net turnover in Grundfos increased by 3% to DKK 27.5bn, which is the highest level in Grundfos’ 75-year history. This corresponds to 2.2% organic growth in local currencies compared to 2018, according to a press release.
Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) grew by 16% to DKK 2.8bn, or 10.1% of turnover. Adjusted for items not related to the operations of the company, the performance EBIT reached 10.6% of net turnover, which makes 2019 the first year the Grundfos Strategy 2020 target of 10% return on net turnover has been achieved.
“We are happy with the financial result and very satisfied with our ability to drive continued growth while positively impacting the world’s climate and water challenges,” said Mads Nipper, CEO and Group President of Grundfos.
Grundfos also reduced its own water consumption by 10.4% and CO2 emissions by 12.2%, compared to 2018.
Michigan’s Top Engineering and Surveying Projects Recognized at Annual ACEC/M Excellence Awards Gala
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) recently honored firms for engineering and surveying excellence during the association’s annual Engineering and
Surveying Excellence Awards Gala. On Mar. 7, design professionals and guests gathered in Grand Rapids to recognize outstanding Michigan engineering and surveying projects from the past year, as well as engineering professionals who have significantly contributed to the profession.
The ACEC/M Awards Program recognizes outstanding efforts of professional design firms to solve clients’ needs through exceptional projects and offers the opportunity to showcase the year’s best engineering and surveying achievements to an audience of peers, clients and decision makers at all levels.
This year’s most prestigious award, the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award, went to Tetra Tech.
According to the press release, five firms were honored with an Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award for their work on the following:
- AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (Chicago) – High-Rate Clarification Plant in Columbiaville
- Fishbeck (Grand Rapids) – Water Treatment Plant Improvements in Ludington
- Prein&Newhof (Grand Rapids) – Water Treatment Pilot Study for PFAS Removal project in Plainfield Charter Township.
- Ruby+Associates, Inc. (Bingham Farms) – Mackinac Bridge Paint Platforms project in Mackinaw City
- The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.. (Canton) – Ford Flat Rock Facility in Flat Rock
Engineering Merit Awards were presented to:
- C2AE (Gaylord) – Four Mile Road Municipal Water and Wastewater project in Grayling
- Gourdie-Fraser, Inc. (Traverse City) – 8th Street Reconstruction in Traverse City
- Hubbell, Roth & Clark, Inc. (Bloomfield Hills) – Groundbreaking Trenchless Technology project for the City of Royal Oak
- NTH Consultants, Ltd. (Northville) – Auburn Treatment Plant Pipeline Rehabilitation in Pontiac
- Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. (Troy) – I-75 Concrete Inlay Project in Detroit
- SmithGroup (Detroit) – Biological Sciences Building at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
- SmithGroup (Detroit) – Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University in Detroit
- Spicer Group, Inc. (St. Johns) – Smith Consolidated Drain project in Okemos
- Tyme Consulting Engineers, Inc. (Livonia) – I-75 ITS Fiber Network Backbone Design in Wayne County
- Wade Trim (Taylor) – Wilson Road Extension project at Michigan State University in East Lansing
This year’s Surveying Eminent Conceptor Award went to Spicer Group, Inc. (Saginaw) for its MDOT Railway Scanning project.
A Surveying Honorable Conceptor Award was presented to Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering, Inc. for its Taming the Wildcat Drain project in Three Rivers.
Surveying Merit Awards were presented to:
- Nowak & Fraus Engineers (Pontiac) – Ford Field Surveying and Scanning in Detroit
- Spalding DeDecker (Rochester Hills) – Michigan Central Station project in Detroit
OxyMem Wins Water and Energy Exchange (WEX) Global Innovation in Process Technology Award
The Water and Energy Exchange (WEX) Global Awards 2020 awarded OxyMem the Innovation in Process Technology Award. The company was honored to receive this recognition of achievement in the water sector.
“The judges were particularly impressed by the OxyMem drop-in MABR modules that enhance the capacity of wastewater treatment plants,” according to Mark Barker, CEO of WEX. “The technology helps operators cope with fluctuating process loads without having to expand the plant. The MABR delivers oxygen to the established biofilm via the millions of gas permeable membrane tubes; a mechanism capable of saving approximately 75% energy consumption over traditional bubble aeration.”
The judges also gave recognition to DuPont Water Solutions by shortlisting the company in the Technology, Water and Wastewater Management, Infrastructure, Finance/Partnerships and Desalination categories.