Every year, the month of October is especially busy as many of the industry’s major trade shows occur. This year was no exception, as these events serve as a precursor to what can be expected in 2007.
Over the course of two weeks, ISA, AMRA and WEF each held their annual meetings, with the AMRA and WEF events being held concurrently. Regardless of this overlap, the WWD editorial staff was stretched thin attending each of the events. The following offers brief highlights of each:
ISA, Oct. 17-19, Houston
ISA’s Executive Board voted to provide free downloadable ISA-developed standards from their website (ISA.org). Essentially, current and future ISA members will benefit from these free standards to help introduce best practices into the automation industry. The free standards will become available in January 2007.
AMRA, Oct. 21-25, Nashville
AMRA announced its 2006-2007 Board of Trustees during Autovation 2006. Over 1,000 attendees visited more than 80 exhibitors and 60+ educational sessions, many of which included future technologies specific to water-related automatic meter reading applications.
WEFTEC, Oct. 21-25, Dallas
- Frost & Sullivan recognized Smith & Loveless, Inc., with the 2006 Packaged Wastewater Technology Innovation of the Year Award in recognition of its proven technologies, which Frost & Sullivan judged as innovative when compared to other technologies in the marketplace. Sanjiv Bhaskar, director of Environmental & Building Technologies Practice for Frost & Sullivan, presented the award to Robert Rebori, chairman and president for Smith & Loveless, Inc., during a brief presentation at the Smith & Loveless booth;
- ADAPCO announced the introduction of the Vulchur product, which has the ability to control both odor-causing bacteria and corrosion in wastewater systems, according to company officials;
- ITT’s Bjorn von Euler, director of corporate communications, told assembled press the company will remained focused on issues involving water reuse, monitoring control and life cycle costs. A number of ITT’s products and systems have been upgraded to address these issues, in addition to new products and systems the company now offers;
- Chuck Gordon, executive vice president of Siemens Water Technology, explained to the media during a press conference that Siemens has seen a steady increase in the demand for its water reuse technologies, specifically the Memcor membrane products. “Siemens estimates demand for new water technologies will double the size of the wastewater reuse and recycle industry, estimated at $40 billion, in the next eight to 10 years,” he said;
- Thompson Pump unveiled the Arctic Knight system, a cold weather package for diesel driven pumps, which allows for efficient pump operation in sub-freezing temperatures; and
- Finally, the WWEMA/WWD Annual Scholarship was awarded to Christopher Balallo, whose father Geronimo (Jerry) Balallo, is a technical product manager for Infilco Degremont.
Of course, there were dozens of other new products and services that have been recently introduced to the water and wastewater industry during these three trade shows. While I may not have addressed those items in this space, rest assured, they will receive ample editorial coverage in 2007.
