IN FOCUS

New Lowara pumps are hydraulically powered multiphase centrifugal units, which run at 2.900 rpm and throw 13 m3 per hour at 12 bar giving overall better performance from a more compact scale. A particular innovation for this new design of de-icer is the use of a single, relatively small and light – yet high performance – pump. The vehicles being replaced had large, heavy, cast iron gear pumps which had many problems, most of them expensive.

On 28 September KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Frankenthal, tested the largest feed pump ever built since the foundation of the company 125 years ago. The full load pump weighing around 40 tonnes is intended for the new 1000 MW block of a lignite-fired power station in Niederaussem near Cologne.

Ready 24 is the latest drainage pump from ITT Flygt. The 2.4 kW pump, which weighs less than 18 kg and is less than 200 mm in diameter, can cope with everything from muddy water to corrosive liquids and gravel.

The implementations of innovative valves has enabled the Puchheim Pump Specialists ASF THOMAS to significantly increase the repeat accuracy of the volume flow of their Micro Diaphragm Pump 2002.

Consolidated order intake by the Sulzer Corporation for the first nine
months of 2000 was 6 percent above the prior year at CHF 4260 million. Growth adjusted for acquisitions and divestitures was 11%, and 7% after adjustment for currency effects. All divisions contributed to this significant rise, in particular Sulzer Medica with consistently good sales development as well as the high demand for Sulzer Pumps and Sulzer Textil products.

Sulzer makes drastic changes: Medical Devices and Surface and Materials Technology form the core of the new corporate strategy. These areas offer potential for high growth and profitability. As a consequence of the new strategic direction, new owners will be sought over the next several months for five business units (Infra, Pumps, Textil, Turbo and Burckhardt) with a total of over 14’600 employees. At the same time, Sulzer plans to make acquisitions of over CHF 2 billion within two years. Sulzer Medica Ltd will merge with Sulzer Ltd – this is subject to the approval of their shareholders. The strategic rea lignment will lead to a reduction of approximately 300 jobs in corporate services world-wide, half of which in Switzerland. Throughout this transition, Sulzer will honor its social obligations to its employees.

Pump manufacturers will find in the product line Spaix® a complete range of pump selection software, web applications and data administration tools to cover multiple tasks with only one database. The software supplier VSX, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of such software, aims to further improving its market position with that strategy.

IDEX Reports Record Third Quarter Results; Similar Fourth Quarter Anticipated; Record Year Expected

Pentair’s 3rd Quarter EPS in Line with Revised Expectations, Sales Up 18%; Water and Enclosures Groups Continue Strong Growth Momentum

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 16, 2000–National-Oilwell, Inc. (NYSE:NOI) announced that its backlog as of September 30, 2000 increased to $180 million, up from $142 million at June 30, 2000 and from $49 million a year ago.