KBR has announced that it has been selected by Togliattiazot Corporation (ToAZ) to perform revamp studies for seven ammonia plants located in Togliatti, Russia. The ToAZ revamp project will be one of the largest upgrade of an ammonia complex with the seven plants located at the same site.

During the initial phase, KBR will evaluate plant operations to identify bottlenecks, define technical and commercial requirements, and examine process schemes prior to licensing KBR technology. KBR’s conventional and revamp technologies are known in the industry to significantly increase operational efficiencies, on-stream reliability and total ammonia production.

“KBR is proud to be selected by ToAZ for this revamp study,” said John Derbyshire, President, KBR Technology. “Helping our clients achieve greater production capacities with no lost shutdown time is one of our core competencies and will continue to be an area of significant growth worldwide.”

Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that its subsidiary, PT Yokogawa Indonesia, has received an order from PT Waskita Karya (Persero) Tbk*1 to supply the automation system for the Petanu water treatment plant that it is building at the Sanur beach resort area on Bali's southeastern coast for a municipal water utility (PDAM*2) that is overseen by the Indonesian government's Ministry of Public Works.

The Petanu water treatment plant will produce 300 liters per second (approximately 25,920 cubic meters per day) of clean water for Gianyar Regency, Denpasar City, and Badung Regency. It is scheduled to start operation in September 2013.

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, and its infrastructure is being rapidly developed to meet the growing needs of its urban population and the tourism industry. The Petanu water treatment plant is a key to ensuring a stable supply of clean water for southeastern Bali.

The automation system that is to be installed at the Petanu water treatment plant includes the FAST/TOOLS SCADA*3 software package, the STARDOM™ network-based control system, analyzers, and a variety of field devices such as ADMAG series magnetic flowmeters. Yokogawa Indonesia will be responsible for the entire project, from engineering to delivery, installation, and commissioning.

Yokogawa was able to win this order because of its ability to provide a one stop solution comprised of field devices, control systems, and other products that will meet a wide range of operation and maintenance needs and thereby improve the efficiency of water production.

Water shortages are becoming a serious problem in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, because of rapid economic and population growth. According to a report titled “Future Vision and Policy Response toward Water Business Industry" that was released by the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in April 2010, the global water market is projected to grow from 36 trillion yen in 2007 to 87 trillion yen in 2025.

Encouraged by the success in winning this order, Yokogawa will seek to expand its share of the water-related control business in Southeast Asia and other emerging regions by providing water supply infrastructure solutions based on its extensive experience in water treatment applications and technical expertise in automation systems.

Honeywell Automation India Limited (HAIL) has received two Indo-American Corporate Excellence awards at a ceremony organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC). Anant Maheshwari, Managing Director, HAIL, and Country Leader for Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, India, received the awards from Prithviraj Chavan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, as a part of the pre-American Independence Day celebrations.

Honeywell received the Corporate Excellence Award for Technology and Communications for driving a successful technology enterprise and its contributions to the Indo-U.S. technology sector.

The Corporate Excellence Award in Manufacturing recognizes the company for its innovative manufacturing principles using Honeywell Operating System, lean manufacturing, Kaizen, and Six Sigma processes to deliver high quality products to its customers.

The Weir Group PLC has agreed to acquire a majority interest in the South Korean valves business formerly operated by HIM Tech Co Ltd (“HIM Tech”).

Located in Ansan, near Seoul, the business designs and manufactures control and choke valves for severe service power generation and oil & gas applications. As well as domestic customers, its products are supplied to major South Korean engineering contractors for international projects. In the year to 31 December 2010, HIM Tech’s valves business recorded sales of US$10.5m.

Weir has agreed to acquire 60% of a new Korean company, Weir International, into which the HIM Tech valves business has been transferred.

Keith Cochrane, chief executive of Weir, commented: “This acquisition in South Korea, one of the “Next 11” high growth economies, increases our global capability, allowing us to add local content in Korea and provides strong links to a number of important Korean contractors who supply both the home and international markets. The team at HIM Tech, led by Heang Hoon Cho, are already well known to us as trading partners. In recent months we have been collaborating on a number of initiatives which we expect will generate new orders for our global valves business."

Heang Hoon Cho, who will continue as president of the Ansan operation under the Weir banner, added: “I have worked with Weir for 17 years, first as agent and then licensee, and I am delighted that we are becoming an integral part of the Weir Group. The acquisition opens many new avenues to expand the business both in Korea and with Korean customers worldwide.”