SUPPLIER NEWS

Norampac Inc. and ThermoChem Recovery International announced that the black liquor gasification project at Norampac's Trenton, Ont., mill has progressed from commissioning status to full commercial operation. The mill also has completed air emissions testing and is the world's first commercial low-temperature black liquor gasification system. The mill has achieved over 18,000 operation hours.

Corenso, a Stora Enso subsidiary, has selected Vaahto Pulp & Paper Machinery to supply main production equipment for the No. 12 paper machine conversion project at Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Vaahto will supply a new dilution controlled headbox, wire section extension, and a shoe press. The No. 12 paper machine will be rebuilt to produce coreboard starting in 2008. Training and startup services are induded in the order.
SKF announces its subsidiary company, SKF USA Inc., has acquired Preventive Maintenance Company Inc. (PMCI) in Elk Grove Village, Ind. SKF reports it intends to use PMCI's expertise in vibration data collections and analysis, balancing, alignment, ultrasonics, lubrications sampling, and thermography to create a primary service delivery organization.

PerkinElmer Inc. has acquired a line of dynamic mechanical analysis products from Triton Technology Ltd.

Parelec Inc. in Rocky Mill, N.J., has acquired Precision Systems, a supplier of real time location systems in Raanana, Israel.

GL&V has completed the pending acquisition of technologies from Metso Corp.

NEW FACILITIES

Mascoma Corp. has received a $14.8-million award from the New York State Dept. of Agriculture and Markets and the New York Energy Research and Development Authority to build and operate a biomass-to-ethanol demonstration plant in Rochester, N.Y. The planned project will include a consortium of International Paper, Cornell University, Clarkson University, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The facility will operate using paper sludge, wood chips, switch grass, and corn stover, and Is expected to be operational about a year after construction begins.

ISRA Surface Vision, after a 30% growth in surface inspection over the past fiscal year, has moved into a larger facility in Duluth, Ga. The Inspection Div. works on plastics, nonwovens, paper, print, metals, glass, and the can inspection markets.

PRICING

Dow Chemical Co. announced that the price for QUAT 188 Cationic Reagent will increase by $0.08/lb on February 15 or as contracts permit.

ITOCHU Chemicals America Inc. has issued a temporary voluntary allowance (TVA) to reduce the price of titanium dioxide slurry by $0.06/lb. The TVA is for the period ending March 31 and applies to all the company's titanium dioxide slurry products, including Anatase, Rutile, and Ti-B

NAME CHANGE

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry has changed the name of its Faculty of Paper Science and Engineering to the Faculty of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering. The change reflects the addition of a bioprocess engineering major.

ONLINE UPDATES

Babcock & Wilcox Co. has released its 2007 technical training seminar schedule through its Web site, www.babcock.com. Seven technical seminars offered this year include: low NOx burners and SCR systems, package boilers, wet/dry FGD systems, recovery boilers, B&W roll wheel and E/EL analysis, coal-fired boilers and performance analysis, and coal-fired utility boilers.

Maxson Automatic Machinery Company launched a redeveloped Web site at www.maxsonautomation.com. The customer service section of the site offers ways to improve sheet operation efficiency and productivity, and contains frequently asked questions and troubleshooting guides. The product section can be searched using an alphabetical listing, or by industry type or product category. Updated information can also be found in the company profile section, including key personnel, history, and contact information.

Inpro/Seal has revised and relaunched its Web site, www.inpro-seal.com, with a new "educate and inform" style. Some features of the site include: illustrations, charts, diagrams, installations, product photography, documentation, product literature, feature articles, and frequently asked questions.

TECHNOLOGY

The Hydraulic Institute (HI) released a new guideline, titled "Mechanical Seals for Pumps: Application Guidelines," in January. The 300-page reference book provides pump and seal professionals, end users, and consulting engineers with current pump mechanical seal knowledge. HI will also offer a course based on the guideline at the Texas A&M Pump Users Symposium on March 5 in Houston, Tex. Visit www.pumps.org for more information. In addition, HI is offering pump users entry into its "Standards Partners" program that offers benefits such as the latest HI standards on CD-ROM and access to e-learning courses.