NEWS

AO Smith

A. O. Smith targets 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025

A. O. Smith announced the release of its 2020 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report, which documents the company’s environmental, social and governance activities and performance over the past two years. It announced the company's first greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal of 10% by 2025.

“The adoption of our first GHG emissions reduction goal is an important step for A. O. Smith to help further advance our innovation efforts as we work to mitigate the impact we have on the environment, and be good stewards of the resources we use in our operations,” said Patricia Ackerman, senior vice president, investor relations, treasurer and corporate responsibility & sustainability. “The goal was developed through a strategic initiative to identify opportunities to further reduce and conserve water, natural gas and electricity consumption and associated GHG emissions.”

“As energy and water demand increases, our customers and communities also look to us to provide products that help reduce energy consumption and associated GHG emissions, conserve water and avoid single-use plastics,” Ackerman added. “Our commitment to innovation and engineering excellence has enabled us to be a leader in meeting our customers’ demands, while at the same time working toward providing water heating and water treatment solutions that reduce the impact on the environment throughout their lifecycle.”

In A. O. Smith’s North America Water Heating (NAWH) business, 17 of 18 product development projects either “in development” or “pending resources” are either zero-carbon or high-efficiency (condensing) gas products, which typically support a 50% improvement in energy efficiency.

Anvil/Smith-Cooper acquires valve brands

Anvil and Smith-Cooper International, a portfolio company of Tailwind Capital, announced the acquisition of the ABZ and Quadrant Valve brands from parent company Forum Energy Technologies.

ABZ, located in Madison, Kansas, is a provider of resilient seated and high-performance butterfly valves, serving the industrial, processing, chemical, mining and data center markets. Quadrant, located in Broussard, Louisiana, is a provider of patented, quarter-turn specialty ball and butterfly valves, serving the chemical, petrochemical and upstream energy markets.

"The acquisition will enhance Anvil and Smith-Cooper International's flow control portfolio with patented and industry-leading products and solutions," said Jason Hild, CEO of Anvil/SCI. "We are confident these brand additions will bring outstanding product and service benefits to both organizations' existing customers."

ABZ and Quadrant valve brands will join an existing portfolio of flow control brands such as Anvil, FPPI, Gruvlok, SCI and Sharpe.

Terracon acquires Burleson Consulting

Terracon announced it has acquired Burleson Consulting, a provider of environmental compliance and engineering services for federal, state, municipal and industrial clients throughout California.

Burleson provides quality environmental compliance, site assessment and remediation, biological habitat restoration and water resources services to government and private-sector clients from its headquarters in Folsom, California, and Monterey, California location, Terracon noted. Burleson’s professionals have environmental experience and in-depth knowledge of the latest technologies, developments in environmental compliance, remediation and permitting services. The firm provides expertise in NEPA, CEQA, CERCLA, RCRA and water-quality permitting and monitoring.

“Navigating the environmental compliance and permitting process can be challenging and time-consuming for many of our clients,” said Gayle Packer, Terracon president and CEO. “The addition of Burleson further strengthens our existing environmental practice in California and the Western U.S., and complements our focus on delivering an outstanding client experience throughout the project life cycle.”

A.Y. McDonald acquires Val-Matic

A.Y. McDonald acquired Val-Matic Valve & Mfg. Corp., of Elmhurst, Illinois on Dec. 31. Val-Matic Valve was founded in 1966 by Andrew Nuter, and is a manufacturer of 14 valve product lines for the water and wastewater, industrial, commercial building construction and plumbing industries, with an additional manufacturing facility in Addison, Illinois.

“My management team and I are excited and proud to join the family-owned, historic company A.Y. McDonald,” Val-Matic President and CEO John V. Ballun said. “Val-Matic has a similar tradition of serving customers in the waterworks market for more than 50 years with quality products and services.”

Rob McDonald, A.Y. McDonald CEO, added: “We are excited to welcome Val-Matic into our family of companies. We look forward to continuing the success of Val-Matic and growing the company in the same manner as it has the past 54 years under the ownership and direction of the Nuter family. We will continue to invest in Val-Matic’s people and product lines to make this company even stronger and more successful in the years ahead.”

Each company will continue to operate independently with separate management, market strategies and sales operations.

AY Mc Donald
Bradford White logo

Bradford White completes Keltech purchase

Bradford White Corp. has concluded its asset purchase of Keltech from Bradley Corp. Keltech is a manufacturer of commercial and industrial tankless electric water heaters.

The acquisition expands Bradford White’s portfolio of commercial and industrial electric products to help satisfy the needs of a broader customer base and better position it for the ongoing adoption of electrification initiatives in communities throughout North America, Bradford White explained.

The Keltech acquisition also begins a new partnership between Bradford White and Bradley Corp. Bradford White will supply Bradley with the electric commercial tankless water heaters that complement their safety products, such as emergency eyewash and emergency safety shower stations.

“Initially, Bradford White’s Laars Heating Systems subsidiary will have primary responsibility for the sales and marketing of the Keltech electric tankless water heater line," said Carl Pinto Jr., senior director of marketing communications. "Bradford White Water Heaters and Niles Steel Tank customers interested in the Keltech products can reach out to their representatives regarding product availability.”

Until further notice, current Keltech customers should continue to use their existing Keltech contacts for sales and service support, Bradford White added.

Navien Announces Virtual Launch Events

Navien announces virtual product launch

After hosting a live virtual event this month for its new line of boiler and combi-boiler products, Navien will follow-up with a March 16 live virtual event to introduce its latest water heater innovations. The event will offer insight on the newest products from Navien and allow attendees to interact and ask questions live with the Navien team.

To register, visit www.navieninc.com/live.

PM Engineer Archive