News of people and events important to the maintenance and reliability community

COMMTEST ANNOUNCES SR. MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Jack Henderson, chairman of Commtest, has announced the following new structure of its senior management team. Joining Henderson as global managing partners are John Cochrane, general manager of Commtest Instruments, LTD; Jack Dischner, president of Commtest Inc.; and Mark Radburnd, CFO of Commtest Instruments, LTD. With Dischner’s promotion from president of Commtest Inc. to global managing partner, Blaine Loomer and Kevin Deverell will become co-directors of Sales for North America.

EMERSON’S SERVICE CENTER RE-APPROVED TO SUPPLY NUKE OPS
Emerson Process Management has announced re-approval of the company’s Instrument & Valve Services Columbia, SC Service Center, as a supplier to nuclear power plants in the U.S. and Canada. Approved products and services from this site are safety-related (non-ASME code) control valves, valve parts, Emerson’s FlowScanner™ 6000 valve diagnostic system, FlowScanner calibration and FlowScanner repairs.

The NUPIC (Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee) Audit Report, issued on December 6, 2007, followed a comprehensive audit of the facility by a team of nuclear industry experts. This approval provides nuclear plant procurement personnel the assurance that Emerson’s Columbia Service Center adheres to quality programs in compliance with 10CFR50 Appendix B and Part 21 of the US Regulatory Commission (NRC) 18 Point Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants.

The Columbia Service Center also holds “R” Stamp certification from the National Board of Pressure Vessel Inspectors, allowing personnel from Columbia to make field repairs and alterations on Contek “S” Stamp desuperheaters at any customer location in the U.S. In addition, the operation holds “NR” Stamp certification, which qualifies site personnel to complete materials repairs to ASME Section III Code Pressure Boundary Parts. The Columbia Service Center also holds an ASME NPT Certificate that allows it to provide short lead time ASME code replacement parts.

BPL GLOBAL AGREES TO ACQUIRE CONNECTED ENERGY
BPL Global, Ltd. (BPL) recently has entered into an agreement to acquire Connected Energy Corporation. According to a company press release, this acquisition is expected to strengthen BPL’s position as a leading provider of demand management solutions to the commercial, industrial and residential markets.

YOKOGAWA ESTABLISHES NEW GLOBAL MKTG. CENTER IN DALLAS
Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced the establishment of a new Industrial Automation (IA) Global Marketing Center in Dallas, TX, effective January 2008. Dr. Maurice Wilkins, formerly of ARC Advisory Group, will head the group as VP of Strategic Marketing, Yokogawa IA Global Marketing. According to David Johnson, president & CEO, Yokogawa Corporation of America, the mission of the new center is to advance Yokogawa Industrial Automation into a recognized global technology leader. Yokogawa will work with key user companies, standards organizations, industry associations, internal subject matter experts and Yokogawa’ s United States Development Center (USDC) to strengthen its presence in this region. The Global Marketing Center in Dallas will focus on business outside of Japan.

KEY ABB APPOINTMENTS REFLECT COMPANY’S OUTLOOK
ABB has announced two key appointments to its North American management team. Greg Scheu, former senior VP of the company’s Automation Products division in North America, will now head ABB’s Power Products division in North America (the largest of ABB’s businesses in the region). Filling Scheu’s vacancy in Automation Products for North America will be Rick Hepperla, who formerly served as local business unit manager of ABB’s North American low-voltage drives unit based in New Berlin, WI. Enrique Santacana, president and CEO of ABB Inc., notes that these appointments, effective February 15, are reflective of the company’s bullish outlook on the North American market.

On a related note, ABB also has announced the formation of a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on energy research to help meet the world’s need for clean electricity and energy efficiency. ABB will join MIT’s Energy Initiative (MITEI) and support research in a variety of areas including nanofluids, power electronics, intelligent robotics and equipment heat management. As a Sustaining Member of MITEI, ABB will have a seat on the MITEI governing board that provides key input on the direction and success of the Initiative’s research portfolio.

CLIMAX METAL PRODUCTS ACQUIRES CLEVELAND SALES CO.
Climax Metal Products Company, a manufacturer of shaft collars, rigid couplings and keyless locking assemblies announced that it has acquired the assets of the Cleveland Sales Company (Clesco). Founded in 1930, Clesco is a leading manufacturer and supplier of power transmission components and zinc and aluminum die cast pulleys. It has facilities in Willoughby, OH and Ennis, TX.

EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES

TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR CAGI INNOVATION AWARDS
The Compressed Air & Gas Institute (CAGI) is pleased to announce the teams from four of the nation’s top engineering schools that are taking part in CAGI’s first Innovation Awards contest. Participating schools include Milwaukee School of Engineering, Purdue University, Virginia Tech and the University of Minnesota.

The Innovation Awards are an invitation-only awards program designed to honor undergraduates for innovative use of compressed air. Students submit their air-powered designs for judging by the members of CAGI, the association of manufacturers of compressed air systems and equipment. The contest challenges students to create innovative designs, using compressed air as the power source.

“With creative team names like ‘Stressed and Compressed,’ ‘Gas Giants,’ and ‘Full Throttle,’ we’re looking forward to seeing what inventive submissions the teams produce,” says David Prator, president of CAGI. First place teams will receive $2500 and also see $8000 awarded to their school. $1500 goes to the second place team, with $4000 going to their school. Results will be announced April 1, 2008.

Since 1915, CAGI has been the leading organization representing manufacturers of compressed air system equipment, including air compressors, blowers, pneumatic tools and air and gas drying and filtration equipment. For more information about CAGI and the Innovation Awards, visit www.cagi.org

OOOOOOPS!
In the January 2008 installment of “Input/Output,” which covered several comments from a reader and responses from technical experts within the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA), the organization’s Website was listed incorrectly. The correct address is www.EASA.com.

YOUR NEWS IS OUR NEWS! OUR READERS WANT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT IT. SEND MT NEWS ITEMS TO: jalexander@atpnetwork.com