Dan Busch, takes helm of Constructors & Associates

Source: Constructors & Associates

Dan Busch Named President of IAMC Associate Member Constructors & Associates

Seeking to grow its market geographically and in terms of project scope, the interior build-out firm Constructors & Associates tapped real estate veteran Dan Busch as its new president. In an interview by Bill Hethcock of the Dallas Business Journal, Busch said, "We want to grow our client base and diversify the type of work we do." The article notes, "As president of Constructors, Busch manages the company's operations throughout Texas and the Southwest." The new president’s resume includes past positions with CB Richard Ellis and EDS. David Snyder is the IAMC representative from Constructors & Associates.

An Air Products production facility illuminated for night operation

Source: www.airproducts.com

Air Products Plans Pennsylvania Facility Expansion

Known for its commodity industrial gases, Air Products and Chemicals plans to move aggressively into the high technology market. Spencer Soper writing in "Of the Morning Call" says, "Looking to strengthen its position as the world's top producer of nitrogen trifluoride, a gas used to clean the chambers in which electronics devices are manufactured, Air Products on Tuesday announced production expansions at plants in Schuylkill County and Korea." Regarding the expansion’s extent, Soper writes, "the Trexlertown company's production capacity of the gas will increase 28 percent to 3,200 metric tons per year when all of the projects are complete, expected in the first half of 2009."

The IAMC Active members from Air Products and Chemicals are Susan Reber and Eugene Ervin.

Ship unloading at the Prince Rupert container port

Source: www.mahercanada.com

CN Rail Finds a Pacific-to-Chicago "Shortcut"

CN has been working to improve service to the large and vibrant Chicago market by taking advantage of the newly opened Pacific-coast Prince Rupert container terminal and some special train routing procedures. An article in Business Edge by D’Arcy Jenish reports, "on Oct. 30, the first ship arrived — the COSCO Antwerp — and 360 containers were loaded directly onto flatcars. The 9,000-ft.-long train departed for Chicago on Nov. 1 and arrived in 91.5 hours. By comparison, a similar train traveling from Vancouver to Chicago normally takes about 107 hours." The article quotes Don Krusel, president of the Prince Rupert Port Authority, as saying, "We can offer importers or exporters with the shortest and most reliable route between Asia and the North American heartland."

Mike Deegan is the IAMC Active member with CN Rail.

Dassault Falcon jets are to be powered by Rolls Royce engines.

Source: www.dassaultfalcon.com

Virginia Lands Jet Engine Manufacturing Facility

Taking advantage of local skilled labor and a reputation for supporting new business, Virginia has wooed jet engine maker Rolls-Royce to locate a manufacturing plant in the state. More on this Blockbuster Deal in the newest Site Selection Online Insider report.

Brent Sheffler is the IAMC representative for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

Source: www.holcimfoundation.org

Generous Cement Company Award Encourages Green Construction

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), with its well-know LEED Certification, is not the only game in town when it comes to motivating green building and development. Holcim, the international cement manufacturing company, has endowed the Holcim Foundation with funding and given it the mission of recognizing the best plans for green construction in the world. According to the Foundation’s Web site, "The competition celebrates innovative, future-oriented and tangible sustainable construction projects from around the globe and provides prize money of USD $2 million." That’s a tidy sum of prize money. The site says, "The Holcim Awards (main category) competition is open to projects at an advanced stage of design with a high probability of execution. To be eligible for entry, the project must not have commenced execution prior to June 1, 2007." If a project is still in the envisioning stage, the site says, "a ‘Next Generation’ category is open for project visions at a conceptual level, early stage of design or with a low probability of execution."

Kathy Shanteau and Sharon Patchett are the IAMC Active members from Holcim.

US Steel’s Clairton, Penn., coke ovens

Source: www.coalcampusa.com

U.S. Steel to Invest $1 Bil. in Environmental Upgrades at One Site

Transforming coal into coke, the fuel used to refine iron ore, is by its nature a dirty business. The process gives off smoke, ash and combustion gases. But U.S. Steel is determined to significantly mitigate the environmental side effects. An article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says, "A $1 billion investment proposed by U.S. Steel Corp. at its Clairton Works coke-producing operations not only will help to ensure the long-term viability of its Mon Valley operations but will clean up environmental problems..." As you would guess from the size of the investment, the project’s scale is massive. On this, the article explains, "The Clairton Works is the country's largest coking operation, with 816 ovens grouped into 12 batteries, and annual capability of 4.7 million tons."

Stephen Bilan, Dennis Jones and George Manos are the IAMC Active members from U.S. Steel Corp.

Merck Adds to its Irish Manufacturing Facility Count

Carlow, Ireland, is about 40 miles southwest of Dublin.

Source: www.pharmaceutical-technology.com

If you follow the business news about investment in manufacturing facilities around the world, you know Ireland has attracted a goodly number of pharmaceutical plant investments in recent years. The U.S. company Merck has just announced plans for a new Irish plant. According to an article in the Independent, "U.S. pharmaceutical giant Merck is to invest €200m in Carlow to build a major vaccine production facility in the town with the creation of 170 jobs by 2011." Further, the article notes, "Merck already employs 460 people in Ireland, at plants in Tipperary and Dublin."

Joe Milano is the IAMC Active member with Merck & Co.

Pfizer Plans New Groton Power Plant

Drug company plants are major energy consumers. So, when Pfizer’s operations near Groton, Conn., changed to require less natural gas and more electricity, the company decided to build an electrical power plant. An article on the move in theday.com says, "Pfizer plans to construct a co-generation power plant just south of its current co-generation plant in Groton. The $20 million project would allow the company to produce more of the electricity it uses in Groton and would also benefit Groton Utilities, Pfizer officials said Wednesday at an informational session. A phase-out of Pfizer's large-scale manufacturing operations in Groton and transition there to 100 percent research and development in 2008 have changed the facility's energy needs."

Mark Eichkorn and Sean Nugent are the IAMC Active members with Pfizer.

Baker Hughes makes drill bits for oil exploration.

Source: www.bakerhughes.com

Baker Hughes Expanding its Belfast Operations

With oil prices staying in the $80-95 per barrel range, there’s a big incentive to look for new sources, even if their development might be expensive. The oil field equipment company Baker Hughes is making sure it is ready for a new exploration push by opening a Belfast, Northern Ireland, plant to manufacture advanced technology oil drilling bits. "By developing its Northern Ireland production capability for the technologically advanced drill bit, Hughes Christensen [a Baker Hughes subsidiary] is reinforcing its leading position in this sector," says an article in Northern Ireland News.

Ralph Crabtree is the IAMC Active member for Baker Hughes, Inc.

PepsiCo Expands its Largest Gatorade Plant

Artist’s rendering of the Pryor, OK, Gatorade plant

Source: www.psoklahoma.com

Sports drinks are a competitive and growing market. The next time you are at the supermarket, notice how much shelf space is covered by Gatorade, Powerade and similar products. In 2006, PepsiCo built its largest Gatorade plant near Pryor, Oklahoma. Now, it’s already planning to expand it. The Pryor Daily Times reports, "The largest Gatorade plant in the world sits in Pryor’s MidAmerica Industrial Park; and it’s expanding. Plant Manager Chris Weber told the Sertoma Club Thursday four new lines will be operational by January, 2008. One is expected to start production in December. Currently, 180 people work at Gatorade. Weber said 100 more will be hired by the time the expansion is fully staffed." "Pryor’s facility was the ninth such plant opened. Gatorade and Propel sports drinks are bottled and shipped from the 160 acre property which will have 34 acres under roof when the expansion is complete," the article says.

Kyle Ballard and Russell Burton are the IAMC Active members from PepsiCo.