March 31, 2016
BY Erin Krueger
Clariant honored for its sunliquid technology
Clariant was honored for its innovative sunliquid technology for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues as part of the 2015 German Innovation Prize for Climate and Environment. The biotechnological process was awarded first place in the process innovations category.
Velocys appoints CEO
Velocys plc has appointed David Pummell as CEO. Pummell has more than 30 years of energy and oil industry experience. Prior to joining Velocys, he served as CEO of ACAL Energy Ltd. Pummell also previously served as CEO of MAPS Technology Ltd., where he successfully commercialized the technology prior to its acquisition by GE. He also served as CEO of Ceres Power Group plc, a developer of fuel cell micro combined-heat-and-power (CHP) products for the domestic stationary power sector.
Hamer, Fischbein Americas to merge operations
Hamer and Fischbein Americas have announced plans to merge operations. The Hamer-Fischbein union combines almost 200 years of industrial bag closing and automated packaging experience. The company will continue to focus on its core businesses, including bag filling, bag closing, automated bagging and robotic palletizing.
Doppstadt appoints Ecoverse exclusive distributor
Doppstadt has appointed Ecoverse Industries exclusive distributor for all Doppstadt sales and rentals in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Hawaii. Ecoverse has worked alongside Doppstadt in the North American market for more than 13 years and has strong experience with Doppstadt products and their application across the market. In addition to supplying new machines, Ecoverse will also provide service, parts and full after-market support for all new and existing Doppstadt customers, including technician and field training to support the complete Doppstadt product range.
RusForest begins operations at Russian pellet mill
RusForestAB has announced the first sales from its 30,000-ton-per-year pellet mill in Magistralny, Russia. Following successful test runs in November, the company commenced production and delivery of wood pellets to its European trading partner in December.
Stora Enso to add pellet production capacity at Sweden site
Stora Enso has announced plans to invest €16 million ($14.13 million) to integrate pellet production at its Ala Sawmill in Sweden. The investment will also allow the company to update its boiler at the site. Pellet production is expected to begin during the second quarter of next year.
NDC Technologies delivers equipment to Zilkha
NDC Technologies has delivered an in-process Near-Infrared (NIR) moisture monitoring system to Zilkha Biomass Energy. The system solution includes the installation of multiple NDC CM710e NIR moisture gauges with HMIs and operator workstations to better control the quality of the company’s Zilkha Black Pellet product and to improve process performance.
Gevo adds board member
Gevo Inc. has appointed William H. Baum to its board of directors. Baum has worked in the chemical and biobased products and technology industries during his career, with a focus on business development and strategic alliances. He has been employed in renewable fuels and chemicals the past 18 years with Verenium Corp., Diversa Corp. and Genomatica Inc. Baum currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Genomatica and previously served as executive chairman of the board of Genomatica.
Covanta acquires Chief Industrial Services
Covanta has announced that its subsidiary, Covanta Environmental Solutions, has acquired Chief Industrial Services, a privately-held environmental services company located in Wisconsin. The acquisition will expand and complement Covanta’s existing capabilities in the Midwest. Chief specializes in tailored non-hazardous waste management and industrial cleaning services for industrial and commercial customers in the Midwest.
Air Products receives certification for biogas separation products
Air Products’ PRISM Membranes division in St. Louis, Missouri, has received pressure equipment directive certification for two new sizes of membrane separators for biogas upgrading applications. This certification, from DNV GL Business Assurance Italia S.r.l., confirms that Air Products’ biogas separation products meet the European standards for design, manufacture, and safe operation of pressurized equipment.
Solegear adds team member
Solegear Bioplastic Technologies Inc. has added Brent Ostrowski as director of business development to support the company’s 2016 office products growth initiatives. He has more than 15 years of experience in sourcing and producing exclusive branded products and packaging for major retailers Target and Best Buy.
Rentech appoints CFO
Rentech Inc. has appointed Jeffrey R. Spain chief financial officer (CFO) of Rentech and the general partner of Rentech Nitrogen Partners L.P. Spain will be responsible for overseeing the finance and accounting functions for both companies. He replaces Dan J. Cohrs. Before being appointed CFO, Spain served as senior vice president of finance, accounting and administration for Rentech’s wood fibre group. He has held various senior financial and accounting roles at Rentech since 2011, and most recently played a critical role in the financial turnaround of Fulghum Fibres. Spain’s experience spans over 20 years and includes investment banking and operations management and chief financial officer roles. His past employers include Credit Suisse First Boston, LeadPoint Inc., eNutrition Inc. and Kimberly-Clark Corp.
Director of LBNL appointed
The University of California Board of Regents has approved Michael Witherell, vice chancellor for research at UC Santa Barbara, as director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Witherell is a leading physicist with a highly distinguished career in teaching, research and managing complex organizations. He has received numerous honors and recognitions for his scientific contributions and achievements. He is the former director of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in northern Illinois and currently holds the presidential chair in Physics at UC Santa Barbara.
BioAmber earns certifications for Sarnia plant
BioAmber Inc. has announced that its Sarnia, Ontario, production plant, jointly owned with Mitsui & Co., has received ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and FSSC 22000 certifications. These certifications were granted by accredited certification bodies following audits of the Sarnia plant during the fourth quarter of 2015. By achieving these certifications, BioAmber has demonstrated its commitment to enhancing customer satisfaction through the implementation of an integrated management system. BioAmber has put in place processes that ensure continual improvement and conformity to customer, statutory and regulatory requirements.
Metabolix relocates headquarters
Metabolix Inc. has signed a 10.5-year lease agreement for 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory and office space in Woburn, Massachusetts. Metabolix expects to take occupancy of the space as its corporate headquarters in June as it exits space in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Metabolix also plans to exit office space it currently occupies in Lowell, Massachusetts, in May 2017 and to consolidate its biopolymers sales, marketing and administrative offices and biopolymers research and development laboratories in the Woburn facility. The new laboratory facilities will include a microbial fermentation lab and an expanded biopolymers applications development lab. Pending the spinout of its Yield10 crop science program, Metabolix will also relocate its Massachusetts-based crop science laboratory and personnel to the facility in Woburn.
Dale honored for work in biological engineering
The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering has announced the induction of Bruce Dale, Michigan State University professor of chemical engineering and materials science, to its College of Fellows. Dale was nominated, reviewed and elected by peers and members of the College of Fellows for outstanding contributions in the biological engineering of transforming plant biomass to food and fuel to achieve a sustainable bioeconomy. The College of Fellows is composed of the top 2 percent of medical and biological engineers in the country. AIMBE’s mission is to recognize excellence in, and advocate for, the fields of medical and biological engineering in order to advance society.
SBP appoints CEO
The Sustainable Biomass Partnership has appointed Carsten Huljus as CEO. Huljus is experienced in forest management and chain of custody certification schemes. As CEO, he will be responsible for the leadership and management of SBP, including engagement with its many stakeholders, such as biomass supply chain actors, policy makers and environmental NGOs. The current executive director, Peter Wilson, will take up the new post of standards director with Simon Armstrong continuing as technical director.
Biogas expert recognized
Abraham Engeda, a professor of mechanical engineering at Michigan State University, is one of 10 professors worldwide to earn the Fulbright Global Flex Award. He will use the award to support two years of power-generation research in remote parts of China and Ethiopia. The Fulbright Global Flex Scholars Award is funded by the U.S. Department of State. It helps U.S. academic and professional experts engage in regional or transregional research and teaching through visits to multiple countries. Engeda is an expert in turbomachinery, including power plant cooling, experimental thermofluids, turbomachinery flow analysis and design, gas turbine and biogas. He is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a recipient of the ASME Fluid Machinery Award.
Floreat Group launches company specializing in biomass
Floreat Group has committed $50 million to the U.K. biomass sector and launched FCM Bioenergy Ltd., trading as Vesta, an energy supply company specializing in providing low-cost, long-term green energy contracts using biomass to the manufacturing, agriculture and care home sectors. The venture will be funded through a mixture of equity and debt, all funded privately by the group.
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