IN FOCUS

Atlas Copco, a leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions, has appointed Geert Follens as President of the new Vacuum Technique business area and member of Group management, effective January 1, 2017. Geert Follens is currently President of the Vacuum Solutions division in the Compressor Technique business area.

Flowserve Corporation announced that Mark Blinn plans to retire as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. To ensure an orderly transition, Mr. Blinn will remain in those roles until the appointment of his successor.

Torsten Wintergerste, ad interim Division President Chemtech since June 2016, is confirmed as Division President Chemtech and replaces Oliver Bailer on the Executive Committee of Sulzer. Oliver Bailer, with Sulzer’s support, has extended his leave of absence.

The power industry has been challenged to progress at the “hurry up” pace endemic to Silicon Valley. One of the cited routes is the utilization of the interconnectivity among machines. However, this progress requires better interconnectivity of people. McIlvaine has introduced a free internet decision system for power plants based around separate websites for gas turbines/reciprocating engines and coal-fired power.

Wilo USA is pleased to welcome Dennis B. Thomas, P.E. as the new Regional Sales Manager of Residential and Commercial Building Services for the Southwest Region, United States.

Fossil-fired power plants, refineries, gas-to-liquids, LNG and petrochemical plants are large investments. Initial decisions about suppliers are first made years in advance of the bid specification release.

ABB has appointed Guido Jouret, a pioneer of the Internet of Things, as Chief Digital Officer, reporting to ABB’s CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer, effective October 1, 2016. Jouret will lead the next level of development and deployment of ABB’s digital solutions for customers globally and across all businesses.

Pump and valve manufacturer KSB is, as expected, reporting a decline in its sales revenue and earnings figures for the first half of the year. The 3.1 % drop in consolidated sales revenue to € 1,064.6 million is solely attributable to negative currency effects, as explained by the company in its half-year financial report published today.

Tencarva Machinery Company LLC, based in Greensboro, N. C., has acquired Dixie Pump & Machine Works in Brookhaven, Miss., plus the assets of a portion of Predictive Maintenance Consultants in Brookhaven, from owners Reggie Allen and Collins Allen, of Brookhaven, according to Edwin W. Pearce, III, president of Tencarva.

Pentair announced it has reached an agreement to sell its Valves & Controls business to Emerson (NYSE: EMR). The cash purchase price is $3.15 billion, subject to customary working capital adjustments. The transaction is anticipated to be completed late in 2016 or early in 2017 and is subject to customary closing conditions and necessary regulatory approvals.