Company News

GL Noble Denton has published a new Guideline for the certification of blow-out preventers (BOPs). The Guideline defines the steps to be taken by independent third party certification bodies in certifying the integrity of the asset, which monitors and controls the flow of oil and gas wells. Since the Macondo incident, the oil and gas sector has placed much more emphasis on the inspection and testing of BOPs to ensure compliance with industry standards.

David Constable will assume the position of Chief Executive designate, effective 6 June 2011. Constable is currently Group President, Operations at Fluor Corporation. He grew up in Canada but has lived and worked across the globe for 30 years as an engineer in the heavy industrial engineering, construction, operations and maintenance industries. Constable brings proven technical, operational and commercial skills as well as a sound track record in diversity and talent management to the company.

Or to bring this proverb firmly into the 21st century: where there’s a need for man-made fertilizers, you’ll find copious amounts of corrosion resistant alloys as well!

Allegheny Technologies Inc. has completed its acquisition of Ladish Co. Inc., a USD 883 million cash and common stock purchase. The Milwaukee-based company is now an operating unit of ATI’s High Performance Metals division, which includes superalloy and titanium metal producer ATI Allvac and refractory/reactive metals producer ATI Wah Chang.

Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. (Sumitomo Metals) has introduced summertime working hours at its head offices in Tokyo and Osaka beginning 1 June 2011, as a method to limit electricity consumption. From 1 June 2011 until 30 September 2011, the business day will start and end one hour earlier. In Osaka, this means that employees will work from 8:00-16:30 as opposed to 9:00-17:30.

Sandvik Materials Technology UK has appointed Helen Harvey as its new Technical Sales Manager of Tubular Products. A Sandvik employee for more than 11 years, Harvey brings extensive knowledge of the company’s products and services to the table, in addition to previous managerial experience. She possesses an understanding of the Sandvik Materials Technology business platform

Sandvik Materials Technology has appointed James Cunningham as the new Account Manager with responsibility for Scotland. Having previously worked within Sandvik on technical applications and internal sales at Kanthal in Perth, James has extensive industry knowledge in addition to a degree in Engineering. His close liaison with customers on specific projects gives him ample experience in a number of market sectors, including oil and gas.

CEO of ThyssenKrupp, Heinrich Hiesinger, has announced that the company is splitting off its stainless division so that more of its sales fall to other divisions. As a result of the split, more than 35,000 workers will be let go. The main reason for splitting off the division comes as a result of overall debt, according to Hiesinger. The stainless steel division has been running at a loss over past few years with last year's turnover amounting to EUR 5.9 billion. 

Lianxin Iron and Steel Co. have ignited their furnace for the production of nickel added stainless steel in Dafeng Port Economic Zone, Yancheng. This represents the completion of the first stage of the company's nickel added stainless steel project. The intended annual production capacity of the entire project is 500,000tns of nickel added stainless steel.

R. Joseph Stratman, executive vice president of Nucor Corp., Charlotte, N.C., USA, has been appointed president of the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) for 2011–2012. He will succeed former president William P. Breedlove, executive vice president, marketing and business development, Harsco Metals and Minerals, Seven Fields, Pa., USA. Stratman has been an Executive Vice President of Nucor since September 2007