Tube City IMS opens trading office in Taiwan

Tube City IMS, LLC, a provider of products and services to steel mills and foundries globally, announced that it has opened its first representative trading office in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

J. David Aronson, president and chief operating officer, Raw Material and Optimization Group, Tube City IMS, said Taiwan is an increasingly important market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Heading up the newly-opened Taiwan office will be Kenny Hung as chief representative. Prior to joining the Company, Hung worked at a large Asian trading company specializing in steel products. He has a bachelor’s degree in international business from Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan.

Innov-X Systems and BT Wolfgang Binder partner

Innov-X Systems, Inc. and BT‐Wolfgang Binder GmbH recently announced they are increasing their level of cooperation by further developing their Redwave QXR technology – this time for the plastics recycling markets.

Earlier this year, Innov-X and BT‐Wolfgang Binder entered into an OEM agreement to develop and market a new high volume glass sorting system – the Redwave QXR‐G. This system combines Innov-X’s automated XRF technology and BTW Binder’s novel Redwave concept which effectively separates heat resistant and leaded glass from clean glass cullet.

The success of this partnership has made Innov-X and BT‐Wolfgang Binder decide to further strengthen the cooperation by developing the Redwave QXR technology for the plastics recycling markets.

The Redwave QXR technology sorts material based on the chemical composition, it could potentially have a big impact on the plastic recycling market. The Company believes there is a strong demand for a sorting system that can effectively remove black PVC and brominated plastic from shredded plastics.

Doosan Infracore announces new dealer

Doosan Infracore Portable Power has appointed Air Systems LLC of Louisville, Kentucky, as an authorized dealer of its Ingersoll Rand-branded line of portable air compressors, mobile generators, light compaction equipment and lighting systems.

Air Systems has been providing quality compressed air solutions in Kentucky and southern Indiana since 1968. The company specializes in both portable and stationary air compressors, from small reciprocating air compressors to large industrial compressors used in power plants and automotive facilities. With the addition of the entire portfolio from Doosan Infracore Portable Power, Air Systems expands its product offerings to include a full array of quality construction equipment.

Air Systems offers a full line of Ingersoll Rand-branded portable air compressors from 90 cfm to 1600 cfm, the entire line of mobile generators from 25 kVa to 570 kVa, as well as light towers, rammers, walk-behind plate compactors and rollers.

Bhasin appointed senior IT VP at Waste Management

Waste Management announced that Puneet Bhasin has been named as the company’s new senior vice president, information technology (IT). Bhasin, a professional with 25 years of experience in IT and logistics systems, also joins the company’s senior leadership team as chief information officer (CIO).

Bhasin joins Waste Management from Monster Worldwide where he previously held roles of senior vice president, Global Product & Technology and CIO, North America. Previously, he was senior vice president with Putnam Investments and served as senior vice president and CIO for Greenlight.com.

Bhasin received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology in India and an M.S. in operations research from Ohio State University.

EnergySolutions promotes new chief financial officer

Nucor Corporation chief financial officer Terry S. Lisenby announced his plans to retire at the end of this year, after 24 years of service with Nucor. Lisenby began his career with Nucor in 1985 as manager of financial accounting. In January 2000, he was promoted to chief financial officer, treasurer and executive vice president.

Effective January 1, 2010, James D. Frias will be promoted to chief financial officer, treasurer and executive vice president.

EnergySolutions promotes new chief financial officer

EnergySolutions, Inc., a provider of services to the global nuclear industry, announced that Philip O. Strawbridge, its chief financial officer, is resigning from the company effective December 31, 2009 to pursue personal business interests.

Strawbridge, who played a key role in the company’s initial public offering and has been instrumental in integrating the nine companies brought together since 2005 to provide EnergySolutions’ broad range of global nuclear services, will be succeeded by Mark C. McBride, the company’s current senior vice president and corporate controller.

Tubelite hires Nicklas as national sales manager

Tubelite Inc. has added Mike Nicklas as a national sales manager helping grow the company’s architectural aluminum products nationwide. As part of Tubelite’s sales team, Nicklas reports to Steve Green, director of sales, and works in close collaboration with the company’s client development managers, marketing, client services and engineering staff.

Before joining Tubelite, Nicklas served as the architectural sales and marketing manager at JE Berkowitz, LP. An architectural glass fabricator located in Pedrickton, New Jersey, some of the company’s notable projects include Bank of America Office Tower in Charlotte, North Carolina, Comcast Tower in Philadelphia; the new Meadowlands Stadium in Seacaucus, New Jersey, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Farm Research Campus in Virginia.

In addition to his extensive sales and marketing experience with JE Berkowitz, Nicklas also worked in various sales and marketing positions for 10 years with PPG in the glass and architectural metals groups. Prior to his employment with PPG, he earned a bachelor’s in business administration from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.

Throughout his career, he has been involved with many professional associations. At Tubelite he will represent the company at industry conferences and educational presentations with American Institute of Architects, Glass Association of North America, U.S. Green Building Council, and Construction Specifications Institute.

Plastinum in Emmen opens new production line

Plastinum Polymer Technologies B.V., the municipality of Emmen, N.V. NOM and Emmtec Services B.V. announced that Plastinum has opened a new production line for the recycling of post consumer mixed plastic household waste. The opening will generate production capacity of 10,000 tons per year, creating roughly 25 direct and 20 indirect new jobs. UWV Werkbedrijf in Emmen played an important part in filling the vacancies.

Plastinum’s newly developed technology, called Blendymer, produces Infinymer, a new thermoplastic material.

The company’s decision to base itself in Emmen was made in close consultation with N.V. NOM, the municipality of Emmen and Emmtec Services B.V. NOM has since taken a minority shareholding in Plastinum. The company also received support from the Drenthe Innovative Action Programme 2008-2010 and SenterNovem in developing the new technology.

Republic Services redeems $400 million in notes

Republic Services, Inc. has notified the registered holders of its 7.375 percent senior notes due 2014 that it will redeem all of the notes outstanding (originally $400 million) in December. The notes will be redeemed at a price equal to 103.688 percent of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the redemption date. Payment of the redemption price will be made by United States Bank National Association, the trustee under the indenture governing the notes, on the redemption date upon presentation and surrender of the notes as set forth in the redemption notice.

Republic intends to use cash on hand and, if necessary, incremental borrowings under its revolving credit facility to fund the redemption. The Company expects to incur a charge upon extinguishment of the notes of approximately $46 million. This charge will be reflected in its fourth quarter 2009 financial results.

Mascoma listed among hot bioenergy companies

Mascoma Corporation announced that it has once again made the top ten list for “50 Hottest Companies in Bioenergy” for 2009-2010. The list, published in Biofuels Digest, recognizes innovation and achievement in bioenergy development.

In total, over 1,000 companies were eligible and 311 companies received votes. Rankings were determined 50 percent on votes from a 75-member panel of international selectors, and 50 percent on votes from subscribers of Biofuels Digest. Mascoma came in 10th.

In February 2009, Mascoma announced that its pilot facility in Rome, New York had begun producing cellulosic ethanol. The demonstration facility has the flexibility to run on numerous biomass feedstocks including wood chips, tall grasses, corn stover (residual corn stalks) and sugar cane bagasse. The company, in collaboration with its commercialization subsidiary Frontier Renewable Resources LLC has plans to build a commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in Kinross Township, Michigan, that will initially produce approximately 20 million gallons of the liquid fuel annually.

Call2Recycle appoints Sirjord as board chairman

Call2Recycle announced the appointment of Andrew Sirjord as chairman of the board of directors, tasked to guide the company through strategies designed to spur growth and development. Sirjord has been a board director with the organization since 2006, and was appointed chairman due to his distinct knowledge of environment and energy related products, as well as his strong background in legal affairs.

Safety-Kleen president, CEO Florjancic to retire

Safety-Kleen announced the retirement of its president and CEO Frederick J. Florjancic, effective December 31, 2009.

Florjancic will remain with Safety-Kleen in a consulting capacity for several months to assist the company’s board of directors in conducting a search for his successor and provide for an orderly transition.

Florjancic became president and CEO of Safety-Kleen in June 2004, shortly after the company emerged from bankruptcy. During his tenure, Florjancic helped restore operational stability, completed two re-financings of the company’s debt, resulting in significant interest savings, and grew company revenues by almost 50 percent, from approximately $860 million in 2004 to approximately $1.2 billion in 2008.

Navistar acquires Continental Mfg. Company

Navistar International Corporation announced it has acquired Continental Mfg. Company, Inc., the largest privately-held mixer manufacturer in North America,

Continental offers a full line-up of rear discharge mixer products sold under the CBMW brand and also sells replacement parts for all mixer makes.

Continental will continue to operate independently with manufacturing operations in Houston. Navistar will also utilize select International® Truck dealers to distribute and service mixers and mixer parts. Mixers will continue to be sold and mounted on International brand truck chassis as well as those chassis built by other OEMs.

IronPlanet reports quarterly gross auction sales record

IronPlanet, an online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment, posted record sales for the third quarter of 2009. Gross auction sales were $123 million, an increase of 61 percent over third quarter of 2008. IronPlanet’s year-to-date performance of $334 million is a 36 percent increase over the same period in 2008.

In the third quarter, IronPlanet conducted 22 global auctions, up 38 percent from third quarter 2008. In addition, 55 percent of the items sold in IronPlanet North American auctions had bids from international bidders and 25 percent of the items sold went to buyers outside of the United States.

ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials adds new branches

The ALL Family of Companies announced the expansion of ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials with the addition of two new facilities, one in Newfoundland and Labrador and a second location in Ontario.

ALL Canada Cranes & Aerials consists of the ALL Canada Crane Rental Corp. and ALL Aerials Ltd. The two companies operate independently under one roof, currently headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with each having its own staff and fleet of equipment. The new branches will operate the same way and will be located in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Sudbury, Ontario.

Ryan Johnson joins VEIT as project estimator

VEIT, a specialty contracting and waste management company based in Rogers, Minnesota, has hired Ryan Johnson as a project manager/estimator. Johnson will focus on drilled pier projects within the foundations group, and will be based in VEIT’s main office in Rogers, Minnesota.

Johnson has 10 years of experience in commercial and civil construction. He holds a degree in construction management from North Dakota State University and is a LEED accredited professional.

While focusing on drilled piers, Johnson will assist with VEIT’s complete foundations service offering, which includes driven and drilled piles, earth retention systems, helical piles, underpinning and anchors, and grouting.

SWIX director partners to aid municipalities

The president of True Green Energy Group, John Lamb, along with the founder of Spectrum Blue Steel, Ronald Flynn, announced Spectrum Blue Steel’s newest partner, Eugene B. Jones, who is the executive director for Southern Waste Information exchange, Inc. (SWIX), which is a non-profit clearinghouse and repository for businesses and government agencies in the United States.

Jones will assist Spectrum Blue Steel’s businesses and help communicate with American municipalities with waste management issues. Jones has worked with local, state, and federal agencies, legislative and congressional committee staff, trade associations, and with industries regulated under RCRA, CERCLA, and OSHA. His experience is an invaluable commodity to SBS and is essential for locking down government contracts and deploying Biosphere systems in America.

Jones has a vast experience in organizing and managing various conferences for agencies and organizations such as the Waste-to-Fuels Conferences, Florida Bio fuels Association, Inc., Recycle Florida Today, Inc., the Florida Brownfield’s Association, Inc., the Florida Environmental Assessors Association, Inc., the United States Department of Energy, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Oakleaf names Santosh Rao chief operating officer

Oakleaf, a provider of sustainable waste logistics and recycling solutions, announced the appointment of Santosh Rao as chief operating officer (COO) of its largest subsidiary, Oakleaf Waste Management. Rao has more than 20 years of experience in global technology, services and manufacturing companies. He brings a wide range of experience to Oakleaf, with proven success in driving operational solutions, building teams and delivering financial results.

Current COO Aaron Furman rejoined Oakleaf, in May after retiring in 2007 to support the transition to a new CEO and the launch of major initiatives. Furman, who originally joined Oakleaf in 1999, played a vital role in leading Oakleaf, during a period of rapid growth. Furman will remain active with Oakleaf, on selected business initiatives.

For the past five years, Rao has been the CEO and owner of Performance Systems Inc., a privately held manufacturer of racing superchargers. Under Rao’s leadership, Performance Systems doubled its sales in three years while dominating market share.

Rao’s previous leadership roles include, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Manufacturers’ Services Limited, executive vice president-Asia Pacific for SCI Systems, and vice president and general manager for Solectron Corporation.