Crown Publications - News in brief

Local Equitrac distributor, Document Accounting Solutions (DAS), has announced an agreement under which Nuance Communications will acquire Equitrac Corporation, a leading provider of intelligent print management and cost recovery software. Equitrac solutions have been adopted by more than 25 000 organisations worldwide to implement secure and managed printing for enterprise, global and mobile workforces.
BASF is investing in a dispersions plant in Durban, producin acrylic dispersions mainly for the coatings and construction industry. The facility will benefit from local availability of raw materials and proximity to key customers who serve South Africa's and sub Saharan Africa's fast-growing markets. Production is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2012.
Honeywell has been awarded a new contract by Sasol Solvents Germany GmbH to upgrade the Distributed Control System (DCS) and Programmable Logic Control (PLC) systems at Sasol's gas-fired power plant in Moers, Germany.
Webb Industries, which has had considerable success with its range of Iridium Low Earth Orbit (LEO) antennas abroad, has announced that it will now be increasing its local marketing effort with these products. Terry Reuss, Webb Industries' engineering manager, says that with the recent ICASA approval of Iridium satellite phone systems and its awarding of the first license to sell them in South Africa, the local Iridium market is set to fly.
Demand for platinum in autocatalysts rose by 43% to 3.13 million ounces as the global automotive sector bounced back from a poor 2009. Purchasing of platinum for use in automotive emissions control increased in all regions as vehicle production rose. The largest increase in platinum demand was in Europe, where it is mainly used in diesel autocatalyst formulations.
Steel processing company Extreme Beams, has invested R20-million in machinery that will increase its plate girder manufacturing capacity. The company was established in Cape Town earlier this year.
Robor's acquisition of Kulungile Metal Group's carbon steel division from investment company Blackstar Group, will increase its annual turnover by one-third, according to CEO Gordon Gilmer.
Work-at-height training provider Height Wise Training Academy has invested some R60 000 in the infrastructure and equipment for a training facility in Midrand. The academy is equipped to train fall-arrest technicians and Level 1-3 rope access technicians.
The Basque seaport of Mutriku, located between Bilbao and San Sebastian has witnessed a historical day in energy generation history. Utility Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE) officially inaugurated the Mutriku wave power plant - the first worldwide in commercial operation. Voith Hydro supplied the equipment for Mutriku's 16 power units that will provide an output of 300 kW in total - electricity sufficient for around 250 homes.
BME recently supported the Wits School of Mining Engineering fourth year mining tour, by sponsoring caps, jackets and t-shirts. The tour exposed the 75 students to the mining industry, by visiting some of South Africa's largest mines. Mining houses also stand to benefit, as they introduce students to the operations and their companies, which forms part of their own recruitment strategies.