MANUFACTURERS – NOVEMBER 2018

A new thermal beneficiation technology from Charah Solutions, Louisville, Ky., improves finished fly ash quality by reducing loss on ignition, ammonia, activated carbon and moisture in raw feeds. The proprietary MP618 Multi-Process suits both wet and dry ash streams and offers these company-cited advantages over competing technologies: Lower cost profile; efficient footprint with self contained environmental controls that can be deployed in weeks versus years; and, modular design that can be scaled to market demand.

The technology can be installed at operating or idled coal-fired power plants, regardless of whether the raw feed is from current production or legacy ash stored in ponds or landfills. In additional to sub-grade coal combustion residuals, it can process kiln dust to remove mercury for emissions regulations compliance. “We believe the introduction of MP618 serves a clear customer need for cost-effective, efficient and sustainable solutions that can be scaled up or down based on the beneficiation needs at a particular site,” says Charah Chief Operating Officer Scott Sewell. “We can beneficiate out of spec fly ash, increase our supply of high-quality ash to the market and add significant value to our utility customers as we continue to leverage new technologies.”

“MP618 will expand our MultiSource materials network, a unique distribution system of more than 30 nationwide sourcing locations, and improve our ability to provide a continuous and reliable supply of supplementary cementitious materials,” adds Vice President of Byproduct Sales Scott Ziegler.

New Hampton Metal Fabrication has merged with Columbus, Ohio-based Spillman Co., manufacturer of custom wet-cast concrete forms and supplier of precast fabrication accessories, magnetic products and automation solutions. “We are confident the combination of our two companies will position us to provide enriched value and support for customers,” says Spillman CEO Ted Coons, who will continue with the business. “We believe that this partnership presents an ideal opportunity to expand to new markets and customers.”

“Spillman offers a premium brand of products that are a natural extension of our current portfolio,” adds New Hampton Metal President Jamie Wegner. “Coming together allows us to formulate and execute on a vision of building a leading global supplier to the wet-cast industry through a more comprehensive set of solutions.”

Spillman marks a fourth bolt-on transaction for St. Louis-based investor Forsyth Partners, which recently branded an umbrella group, Afinitas, spanning charter business HawkeyePedershaab Concrete Technologies plus fellow Iowa operator New Hampton Metal, BFS GmbH of Germany, and CAM Sales Inc. of Michigan. Forsyth aims to position Afinitas as a “a global, comprehensive, customer-oriented infrastructure equipment and services platform [built] through organic growth and acquisitions.” The platform maintains distinct brands and leadership teams across three divisions: HawkeyePedershaab and BFS (dry-cast equipment); NHMF and Spillman (wet-cast forming); and, CAM (consumables).

CarbonCure Technologies, the developer and licensor of carbon dioxide-based processes augmenting ready mixed and manufactured-concrete production, has closed an investment round led by a fund whose principals include Amazon.com Inc., Bloomberg LP, LinkedIn, Microsoft Corp. and Virgin Group founders Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, Reid Hoffman, Bill Gates and Richard Branson. Of nine portfolio investments in the $1 billion-plus Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, CarbonCure is the sole entity with direct construction ties.

“Breakthrough Energy Ventures invests in technology with the potential to eliminate a half gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions per year,” says materials-minded investor and fund spokesman Carmichael Roberts. “CarbonCure represents a triple threat in achieving this goal: compelling economics with a solution that delivers value for customers from day one, products in market today, and a measurable impact on reducing carbon emissions in the built environment.”

“We’ve made it simple and profitable to build resilient structures with lower carbon dioxide emissions. Every tonne of CO2 utilized in concrete production with [our] technology results in a multiplier effect that saves an additional 28 tonnes of CO2 and over $3,100 in production efficiencies,” adds CarbonCure CEO Robert Niven. “This strategic investment allows [us] to scale our impact by expanding into international markets and commercializing new value-added solutions for the concrete industry.”

Jeff Sass has joined Hendrickson International as vice president of Marketing, responsible for creating and implementing product roadmap and brand business strategies. He arrives with 25-plus years in the heavy-duty commercial transportation business, most recently serving as Navistar senior vice president, North American Sales & Marketing. Prior to that, Sass held leadership positions at Paccar’s Kenworth and Peterbilt brands.

Dodge Data & Analytics, the leading source of market intelligence for the North American construction industry, has acquired San Diego-based Integrated Marketing Systems, provider of Advance Notice public construction opportunities. IMS specializes in delivery of comprehensive, industry-focused public project information to architects and engineers searching for very early stage notification and intelligence. Established in 1991, it provides intelligence for the A/E/C community based on clients’ needs for more timely, accurate and focused research.

IMS will benefit from Dodge market and project intelligence and corresponding insights. Through the acquisition, the A/E/C community gains access to early stage professional service projects in addition to Dodge’s Sweets, the world’s largest online building product database (100,000-plus listings), allowing users to add details directly to active contracts.

CatCat machines, engines, generator sets and work tools will soon have a new look. Caterpillar Inc. is replacing the “Power Edge” trade dress (Cat trademark on a black background accented with diagonal red bar) with a new design called “Cat Modern Hex.” The Caterpillar Industrial Design Group graphic combines the traditional trademark and product model names with a bold, three-dimensional red hexagon and grille pattern. The red is a throwback to the graphics on the company’s charter crawler tractors in 1925. In addition to machines and power, the new trade dress will be used on Cat parts packaging and licensed products.

Motion Industries Inc., Birmingham, Ala., has acquired Hydraulic Supply Co., a full service distributor with selection of 8,000-plus hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial products. Hydraulic Supply technicians provide a variety of services including repair, hose assembly and kitting, tube bending and flaring, and manual valve assembly. Motion Industries distributes bearings; mechanical power transmission, electrical and industrial automation; hydraulic and industrial hoses; hydraulic and pneumatic components; industrial and safety products; plus, material handling equipment.