Energy Digital - August 2014

www.energydigital.com | August 2014

Securing The Smart Grid Companies Innovating Using The Smart Grid

COOS BAY:

Wind Farm Floats On

AfRica On The Rise

Iran’s Renewable Future?

edito r ’ s co m m e n t

Editors Letter I ’ m K e v i n —the new editor around here. I’m excited to

take over Energy Digital, and I have to say, it’s a fascinating time to be covering the renewable energy sector. It is my hope you enjoy this issue (my first) and many more to come.

So, let’s get it to. What do we have in store?

For our cover story this month, we look at a new offshore wind project in Coos Bay, Oregon. This isn’t any ordinary offshore wind farm, though. Principle Power’s innovative new WindFloat technology is taking wind power to new depths—and that’s a good thing.

We also explore the potential for renewable energy in Africa, as nine low-income countries recently received financial support in order to update their energy infrastructure in a sustainable manner.

We’ll also dive into the world of smart grid security and look at why it’s a more urgent and immediate matter than you may have thought. In addition to that, our Top 10 showcases 10 companies doing innovative things with smart grid technology, from improving customer’s energy experience, to making our world more connected.

Finally, we’ll also discuss a possible renewable future for Iran and how an energy-from-waste program could possibly kick things off.

Enjoy the issue!

Kevin Smead Editor kevin.smead@wdmgroup.com 3

Big landscapes Inspire big thinking

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE AUSTRALIA FOR YOUR NEXT BUSINESS EVENT. This year we chose Australia for our global congress. It was an easy choice, as Australia’s proximity to Asia gave us the opportunity to attract many new delegates. The program was one of the best in years. New Australian developments in our field attracted a lot of interest and strong international research partnerships were established.

Australia is on everyone’s list to visit, and it lured our highest number of delegates yet. There’s no doubt they’ll be talking about this convention for years to come.

Dr Louise Wong, International Board Member

visit australia.com/businessevents/associations for everything you need to plan your australian event.

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EQUIPMENT IRAN’s Renewable Future?

UTILITIES

Top 10

Securing the Smart Grid

Companies Innovating Using the Smart Grid

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Green Tech

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Coos Bay Wind Farm Floats On

Africa On The Rise

RENEWABLES

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company profiles Europe

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50 NIA - ASSOCIATION

108 Remondis Australia

60 Fosroc

latin america

Canada

116 C.I. Metal Comercio

76 Aluma Systems

126 Ingenio Monte Rosa (Pantaleon)

84 Region of Peel West Trunk Sewer Project

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USA 92 Magnetic Analysis Corporation 100 Moulton Niguel Water District

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Region of Peel West Trunk Sewer Project

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Magnetic Analysis Corporation

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Remondis Australia

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C.I. Metal Comercio

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U tiliti e s

Until recent years, utilities only needed to worry about physical threats to energy infrastructure. Now, cyber security is becoming a major concern 8

August 2014

With smart grids becoming the norm for updating energy infrastructure, there are security challenges utilities must deal with in order to ensure the grids aren’t compromised Edited by Kevin Smead

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UTILITIES Everything, it would seem, is getting “smarter.” From our phones, to our televisions, to even our washers and dryers, companies are constantly finding new ways to connect technology we currently use and make it more efficient, ultimately enabling better usage. Essentially, making it work smarter, not harder. However, with increased connectivity, comes increased risk for breaches in security.

Bigger networks mean bigger risks as hackers can gain access to a wider swath of whatever they’re targeting.

For renewable energy utilities, this is quickly becoming a potentially devastating problem in the form of increasingly connected smart grids, and one that they are rushing to solve.

Currently, hacking into the smart grid is far easier than it should be. There have been many reports of breaches in security over the past few years

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Threat Level Rising A report on smart grid security risks by Dr. Isaac Ghansah defines a smart grid as a “modernized electricity network which is being utilized as a way of addressing energy independence, global warming, and emergency resilience issues.”

One of the several key characteristics of a smart grid the report identifies is its “operating resiliently against physical and cyber attack.” This is especially critical since smart grids are considered one of the 18 critical infrastructures by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Many of the other critical infrastructures depend on smart grids for operation, making their security paramount.

Unfortunately, Dr. Ghansah’s report outlines a number of potential security

‘Bigger networks mean bigger risks as hackers can gain access to a wider swath of whatever they’re targeting’

S ecu r i n g the S m a r t G r id

Though they are only one part of the smart grid, residential smart meters are a generally easy target for hackers threats to the smart grid. First, smart grids are multi-layered networks, and each layer could become an avenue for a cyber attack. While the threat may not be as big in the residential arena, it is a huge factor for large-scale power operations.

As substations and other energy structures become more connected and automated, the level of vulnerability increases greatly.

If someone wishing to do damage gained access to one level of the smart grid, they could potentially

gain access to much more. As grids get bigger, so does the problem. The issue itself isn’t exactly new, though.

While Dr. Ghansah’s report is from 2009, attacks against smart grids were already a major cause for concern. He claims that the DHS gets daily reports of countries— possibly China and Russia, among others—infecting various grids such as water, electric, and waste. The CIA has also reported hackers causing blackouts in exchange for extortion money to turn the lights back on.

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UTILITIES A Most Pressing Concern Now, the situation is reaching a point where further lack of serious action could prove catastrophic. A report released on July 2 of this year by Bloomberg Businessweek discussed the revelation that several back-door attacks that have occurred within the past 15 months. Hackers “Dragonfly” and “Energetic Bear” were able to gain access to U.S. and European

power networks relatively easily due to the system’s vulnerability.

The “Dragonfly” incident was particularly troubling because of its broad scope. A group of hackers, believed to be in Eastern Europe, ran a spam campaign against several power companies in February of last year. They gained access to the networks of three unnamed power companies. According to Bloomberg,

While physical upgrades to energy infrastructure are important, upgrades to sm grid firmware are essential for increasing security. These take time quite a bit of

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S ecu r i n g the S m a r t G r id

the majority of the incidents were reported in Spain, the U.S., France, and Italy, though 84 countries were targeted. The hackers compromised industrial control systems and installed self-replicating malware, which spread to other computers.

Cyber security company Symantec helmed an investigation into the attacks. Eric Chen, a member of Symantec’s Security Technology and

mart f time

Response Team, told Bloomberg that the attacks were more than just espionage, and when the threat is fully assessed they’re “very concerned about sabotage.” Chien discussed a worst-case scenario in which systems could be shut down and the power could simply go out.

Cyber Intelligence Analyst at the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center Donovan Miguel McKendrick told Emergency Management in an interview that another worst case scenario could involve something as simple as a light bulb. Pointing specifically to the Philips Hue light bulb, a bulb that changes colors and can be controlled via a smartphone app, McKendrick says its inclusion in the smart grid could lead to potential troubles if it is accessed through a smart grid hack.

“Now suppose that light bulb is installed in an emergency room and someone shuts it off during a procedure. That’s a worst-case scenario,” McKendrick said.

The Challenge of Implementing Security Measures What’s exceedingly clear is that something needs to be done 13

UTILITIES

“If you talk to the utilities about what you have to protect against, it’s about transformers shorting out and trees falling on lines,” Hunn said.

“That’s what they’ve been dealing with for the past 100 years” – Nick Hunn, CTO at WiFore

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sooner rather than later.

As Emergency Management reports, more than 26 percent of public and 28 percent of investorowned utilities are currently in the planning stages for smart grids.

In today’s hyper-fast modern world, security measures need to be preventative, not reactive.

The U.S. and Europe have already taken steps to fight smart grid attacks, though it is projected utilities’ spending for cyber security will increase dramatically over the next few years, with Europe’s set to more than double to 412 million euros by 2016 according to Bloomberg.

However, McKendrick believes the threat is still understated saying, “There’s no awareness about how serious it is.” He cites the lack of an immediate, personal impact as a driving factor for inaction.

Utilities, despite current efforts, are still slow to jump on board with serious cyber security measures. Budgets for preventative measures and research are increasing, but not rapidly enough.

To fully protect the grid, massive updates need to be conducted.

Chief Technology Officer at

S ecu r i n g the S m a r t G r id

Substations such as this one are at extremely valuable targets for hackers because of their interconnectivity with the rest of the grid WiFore Nick Hunn told Bloomberg Businessweek that he believes utilities are still thinking in the physical realm, much to their detriment.

“If you talk to the utilities about what you have to protect against, it’s about transformers shorting out and trees falling on lines,” Hunn said. “That’s what they’ve been dealing with for the past 100 years.”

Looking back to Dr. Ghansah’s report, one of the key findings is that

grid firmware is in serious need of updating. He explains that proper, effective, and secure implementation of a patch or upgrade can take more than a year, meaning that by now, many utilities are already behind on their security systems.

It’s a problem that can’t afford to exist for much longer, though, as smart grid security can be the difference between keeping the lights on and being left in the dark.

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Green Tech

Coos Bay Wind Farm

Floats On Edited by Kevin Smead

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Green Tech Surrounded by lush, emerald trees, Coos Bay, Oregon is positively idyllic. The clime is also nearly perfect, with the town receiving plenty of rainfall each year. Located on the bay of its namesake, the town is known for its quaint appeal and scenic natural landscapes. Some may have been introduced to Coos Bay as the hometown of former Olympian and track star Steve Prefontaine.

Despite its natural surroundings, one would not immediately associate Coos Bay with renewable energy. Now, that is changing.

In February of this year, Seattlebased Principle Power was given the green light by the U.S. Government to build the first off-shore wind farm on the West Coast off Coos Bay. Several months in, the project is moving along steadily and is supposed to bring clean energy, jobs, and a stimulated economy to the region.

WindFloat Gets its Sea Legs While the green light for Coos Bay (known as the WindFloat Pacific project) came in 2012, Principle Power has been developing WindFloat technology for some time now.

As with many great inventions, the 18

August 2014

The whole unit is assembled entirely on shore before it is towed out to sea, minimizing construction costs technology was formed by trying to solve a problem. Off-shore wind power depends on the ability to install various columns and structures to support the turbines on the ocean’s floor. However, much of the ocean is too deep to install such infrastructure.

Principle Power’s solution to reaching deep water was to essentially ignore depth entirely. WindFloat is a simple floating support structure that allows turbines to be placed in areas of the

C oos B a y W i n d F a r m F loats O n

The WindFloat prototype is just off the coast of Portugal and has produced more than 9GWh of energy so far ocean that exceed 60 meters in depth without extensive heavylift operations during the units final assembly, deployment, and commissioning.

In 2011, Principle Power deployed the first full-scale prototype off the coast of Aguçadoura, Portugal.

The unit was assembled entirely on land and towed from dry dock at its assembly station in Setubal 400km up the coast to its current point.

Principle believes that the

technology provides access to untapped energy potential, as well as cut down economic costs.

They also believe the tech will allow them to tow units to areas offshore that are not visible from land.

Alla Weinstein, CEO of Principal Power, believes the WindFloat will revolutionize the way the industry approaches offshore energy. “In a way we are making a similar leap towards new energy resources 19

G R EEN T ECH as the GREEN TECH industry did in the 1970’s when it began using floating structures,” she said.

Winds of Change “The (deep) ocean is the next big energy frontier,” said António Vidigal, CEO of Energias de Portugal, Principle’s partner in getting the prototype afloat. He’s not the only taking notice, either.

The U.S. Energy Department is funding three major offshore wind

developments over the next four years, one of which is Coos Bay. Each project will receive up to $47 million dollars with the hope they will deploy in 2017.

The other two projects are off the coasts of Atlantic City, New Jersey and Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Coos Bay project remains unique in its utilization of WindFloat, though. The Department of Energy hopes the efforts will lead to more than just renewable energy.

“Offshore wind offers a large, untapped energy resource for

Residents of Coos Bay have expressed concerns that the wind farm might pose problems to the fishing industry. Principle Power believes the farm is far enough off shore to be out of the way

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G R E E N T E C H a r ticle sho r te n ed C oos B a y W i n d F a r m

the United States that can create thousands of manufacturing, construction, and supply chain jobs across the country and drive billions of dollars in local economic investment,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

The U.K. has already jumped on board with offshore wind farms, boasting the most in the world. They also host the largest. As of 2013, the London Array was measured as having a capacity of 630MW. Floating turbines are also set to launch in 2016. While the U.K. clearly has the lead on offshore wind power, the U.S. is still attempting to keep up.

Sailing Ahead in Coos Bay The outlook for the project in Coos Bay is mostly optimistic, though some residents have expressed skepticism about its environmental and social impact. Speaking to Oregon’s KCBY News, Hugh Link with the Dungeness Crab Commission said the project is a bit outside of the their crab grounds, but the group is “concerned for other fisheries and for the maritime safety.”

The maritime safety he’s referring to involves frequency currents used by the U.S. Coast Guard to help search for missing boats.

Principle Power is not concerned, with its VP Kevin Banister telling the network that “it seems like there is less environmental interaction out that far from shore and in water that’s that deep, we think that there’s less fishing activity that far out.”

The Bureau of Ocean Management sought public comment for the project through July 28. Many are hopeful the project will be a success, as it would be the first to use floating offshore technology in the U.S. Also tackling the project is Deepwater Wind, the developers of Rhode Island’s Block Island Wind Farm. “Having Deepwater Wind as a project developer brings together accomplishments and expertise — Principle Power’s proven technology and Deepwater’s experienced energy team,” said Weinstein. “We are excited to be working with the nation’s leading offshore wind developer.”

Both parties are hoping that the Coos Bay Wind Farm will lead the way for more similar developments, making the U.S. a powerhouse in the offshore wind energy sector.

The WindFloat technology’s first true test, however, will take place off of Coos Bay. 21

R ENE W A B L E S

AFRICA ON THE RISE A new investment into nine low-income countries in Africa could hold bright things for the continent’s energy future Edited by Kevin Smead

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R ENE W A B L E S At the semi-annual Climate Investment Funds governing body meeting, funding and operational support for nine low-income African countries to transform their renewable energy services was announced. The countries gaining this support are Benin, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia. This is a big step forward for the continent, as these 9 countries join the ranks of 16 others in piloting the CIF’s climatesmart investment scheme.

Five different agencies are helping implement the countries’ renewable energy strategies, with direct help from one of the agencies, the African Development Bank. The bank will be directly involved in the development of the countries’ investment plans.

Kenyan representative and co-chair of the CIF’s Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries Program (SREP) Erastus Wahome said the move is a sign of a changing Africa. “The additional donor support for energy transformation is a clear sign of confidence in the success we’ve already seen taking place in low-income countries in Africa and other regions, and a sign of 24

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‘Each country will receive $300,000 to begin work on making their SREP plan a reality’ developing countries’ continuing enthusiasm to commit to CIFstyle transformation,” he said.

Each country will receive $300,000 to begin work on making their SREP plan a reality.

40 countries expressed an interest in joining the program, but the nine were selected by an independent panel of experts based on a number of factors, including low energy access rates, the existence of an enabling energy policy, and capacity for further implementation.

Let’s take a look at these countries and see what makes their need for renewable energy so great and hopefully what makes their future look bright.

A f r ica o n the r ise

Benin A small, underdeveloped country on the coast of West Africa, Benin is in a prime position for implementation of renewable energy infrastructure. This, of course, means it doesn’t have any currently. Benin depends largely on bio-mass based energy and imported petroleum from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria. Benin also suffers from a lack of energy access.

There is a huge potential for hydroelectricity in Benin, though it’s essentially being ignored. Only one hydroelectric site is currently

functioning.

While Benin lacks engineers and other talent to make renewable energy a reality, hopefully some of the development fund can be used to attract those willing to take on the task.

Ghana Ghana already has somewhat of a renewable energy infrastructure in place, mostly focused in the hydroelectric sector. In recent years, hydroelectric has been complimented by fossil fuels in order to meet increasing demand in the country. Ghana’s electricity

The small South African country of Lesotho is one of the region’s poorest, though it houses one of the largest green energy projects in its moutnainous terrain

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R ENE W A B L E S

‘Ghana’s electricity infrastructure is quickly becoming outdated and the government consistently falls short of meeting its targets in generation’

Ghana also has untapped potential in its hydroelectric sector, though the country has already made efforts to jump start it with plans like the one seen here 26

August 2014

A f r ica o n the r ise

infrastructure is quickly becoming outdated and the government consistently falls short of meeting its targets in generation. The physical infrastructure is aging badly and is in need of updating, so hopefully some of the SREP funds could be used to ensure that supply is in line with demand.

Lesotho Though it’s one of the smallest countries in Africa, Lesotho made headlines in 2011 with its implementation of one of the largest green energy projects in Africa. The landlocked South African country is unique for its mountains and higher altitudes, making wind energy prime for harnessing. With the Lesotho highlands power project, the government hoped to generate 6,000 MW of wind energy, as well as 4,000 MW of hydroelectric power.

When the project was started, it was in the hope that bringing renewable energy to the country would help solve some of the crises wracking the country, such as extreme poverty and low life expectancy. With the SREP funds,

hopefully the country’s development can be taken to the next level.

Madagascar The island of Madagascar utilizes mostly biomass such as firewood or charcoal for its energy sources, especially in rural areas. Only 20 percent of the population has access to any kind of electricity or form of modern energy.

Madagascar is also mostly rural and one of the poorest countries in the world, making updating the energy infrastructure difficult because of high investment costs.

With the implementation of the SREP funds, Madagascar’s energy future could begin to look up.

Malawi Like the other countries receiving the SREP funds, Malawi uses mostly biomass for its primary energy source. Be it coal, firewood, or something else, this energy is dirty and dangerous especially when used for cooking. Toxic smoke is a huge problem in Malawi, and something the government has 27

R ENE W A B L E S tried to combat in recent years. It’s still a difficult situation, though, has Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Hopefully, with implementation of more renewable energy sources, Malawi will be able to make cooking safe and provide more people with some form of modern power.

Rwanda Until 2004, Rwanda relied almost entirely on hydro power, though the supply could certainly not keep up with the demand. In order to solve the energy shortage problem, the government turned to cheaper, dirtier energy. It’s unfortunate,

Rwanda has large untapped potential in the solar and hydroelectric sectors

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Like other countries receiving the SREP funds, Malawi’s primary source of energy is biomass, which can produce toxic fumes and make cooking dangerous

A f r ica o n the r ise

too, since the country has a large potential for hydro and solar energy.

There’s some momentum behind them, though the most remains behind Rwanda’s biogas industry.

With the SREP funds, Rwanda can invest in bringing all forms of its fledgling renewable energies industry into the modern age.

Sierra Leone There are several major renewable energy projects underway in Sierra Leone already, such as a large bio-energy program and a study into the country’s renewable future. However, as with the other countries receiving the SREP funds, Sierra Leone has a long way to go on the path to renewable energy.

Many in Sierra Leone don’t have access to adequate medical care and hopefully investments using the new funds will lead to a better energy infrastructure, making medical care much easier.

Uganda Uganda is one of the lowest

consumers of energy in the world.

Again, most of Uganda’s energy reliance is on biomass. However, Uganda generates 80 percent of its electricity through hydropower.

Its potential is still definitely left unreached. The same can be said for Uganda’s solar industry.

Solar has been around in Uganda since the late ‘80s, but it’s never really taken off. The government is looking to jump start these energy sectors, and hopefully with some assistance, can make that a reality.

Zambia Zambia relies heavily on petroleum energy, which they wholly import.

This isn’t sustainable, and the government knows that. There has been some investment in hydroelectric energy, solar, wind, and bio-energy, though they’re all in their early stages. There’s definitely momentum, but the industries just need an extra push. They’re looking to build power plants to generate electricity, and with the SREP funds, hopefully they’ll be able to go in a more renewable direction.

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W A S T E M A N A G EMEN T

IRAN’s Renewable Future?

Iran is looking to enter the renewable energy market and one California company is making a big investment by jump starting an energyfrom-waste program Writ ten by: Kevin Sme ad

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W A S T E M A N A G EMEN T The Middle East is changing.

Major events such as the Arab Spring, the U.S. draw down of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the overthrow of several key figures have caused massive cultural and political shifts in the region over the past few years.

One country trying to change its image on the world stage to varying degrees of success is Iran. Under the presidency of ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (20052013) relations with the West were constantly under serious strain. His frequently aggressive anti-Western

Though he is best known for his highly controversial remarks in front of the UN, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad allocated €500 millon for renewable energy projects

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rhetoric made relations between the U.S. and Iran particularly tumultuous.

With the election of Hassan Rouhani in 2013, the tensions between the U.S. and Iran softened a bit, as Rouhani went on a “charm offensive,” reaching out to the understandably skeptical Western world.

Rouhani even spoke to President Barack Obama over the phone regarding Iran’s nuclear program— the first time two heads-of-state from their respective countries have spoken in 30 years.

Despite these efforts and the U.S. and Iran’s potential cooperation regarding the situation in Iraq and Syria, relations remain tense between the two.

Before looking Iran’s renewable energy potential, it’s important to assess Iran’s current energy situation as a whole.

A Finite Dependence on Oil and Gas Globally, Iran is an energy superpower, though most of its assets lie in oil and natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Iran holds the world’s fourth largest proven oil reserves and the second largest natural gas reserves. More than

While it’s trying to break into the renewable energy market, Iran still relies almost entirely on natural gas and fossil fuels—reserves of which are quickly depleting half of the country’s oil reserves lie in five massive fields and the country remains the world’s second largest OPEC producer annually despite its production falling drastically in 2012—down nearly 700 thousand barrels per day from 2011. Sanctions on the Iranian oil industry have done damage, accounting for much of its drop in production. The EIA reports the only countries with companies still operating in the energy sector in Iran are Russia and China.

In the way of renewable energy

projects, Iran is still very much in the planning stages. Only 5 percent of the nation’s electricity comes from hydroelectric or other renewable sources. Instead of green initiatives, Iran has turned to nuclear energy to solve the problem of finite gas and oil reserves, drawing the ire of the Western world once again.

The refusal to give up their pursuit of nuclear energy has resulted in the aforementioned sanctions that are still in place today, though there has been movement on both 33

W A S T E M A N A G EMEN T sides—in the West and in Iran—to work toward a future in which they’re no longer necessary. Unfortunately, it’s not going particularly well.

A Pivot Toward a Possible Solution Jen Alic writing for the Christian Science Monitor believes that the answer to the nuclear issue lies in renewable energy investments within Iran. She argues that despite it seeming antagonistic in nature, Iran’s nuclear program is really about finding an alternative energy. Helping Iran shift away from nuclear and toward

renewable would “gradually remove all justification and necessity for a nuclear energy program.” She also argues that Iran has made it clear they wish to pursue renewable energy, citing former president Ahmadinejad’s 500 million euro allocation for renewable energy projects, as well as the Renewable Energy Organization of Iran’s $60 million budget.

Ultimately, Alic believes that renewable energy is essential to Iran’s future and it’s a smart investment for the world, as she believes it would address many problems faced in Iran’s relations with other countries.

Iran has turned to nuclear power to solve its long term energy problems, much to the ire of the West. There is hope that Iran will instead shift its efforts toward renewable energy

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I r a n ’ s Re n ewable F utu r e ?

Taking a Step Toward Energy-from-Waste While conducting business in Iran is still a difficult proposition, one Californiabased company is hoping to jump start an energy-from-waste project in Iran with a $1.175 billion investment. World Eco Energy hopes to create 650 jobs in the immediate future and to generate 2,000 down the line. By burning 1,500 tons of solid waste, the project will generate roughly 250 megawatts per day. The project is expected to start in September of this year.

However, for a company with more than $1 billion dollars to invest, very little is known about World Eco Energy. Their main energy-from-waste system involves biomass and algae, though they give no specific details on the process. According to filings with the California Secretary of State, the company is approximately one year old and is listed anonymously.

The Iranian government is hoping the investment will pay off, though, claiming local companies will match the investment. If the investing works out, it could put Iran on the path to a sustainable future without nuclear energy in at least one of its energy sectors.

California-based World Eco Energy hopes to bring a $1.175 billion algae focused energyfrom-waste project to Iran this fall. Local utilities said they would match the investment However, for now, it’s unclear what the future holds for Iran and renewable energy. As previously stated, the Middle East is changing and Iran appears to want to change with it. Granted, the transition will not be a rapid one as international relations are still a major problem of Iran’s, but it there does at least look to be those in the country working toward some kind of progress.

Iran’s renewable future may be coming, and it’s time to start paying attention.

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TOP 10

Companies Innovating Using the Smart Grid GTM Research recently released its latest market report on the top 150 smart grid vendors. We take a look at the top 10 and what they’re doing to innovate using the smart grid.

Written by: Kevin Smead

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top 10

Tendril Smart grid innovation doesn’t always have to be about technology. Tendril’s Energy Services Management platform helps utilities and energy service providers better understand the uses and needs of their customers.

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The platform even uses gamifacation in the form of leader boards so one user’s usage can be compared to another.

Tendril wants the platform to help “deliver the right message to the right customer, every time.” www.tendrilinc.com

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Silver Springs Networks Silver Springs Gen4 Communications Module is one of the leading smart grid platforms on the market. It offers cellular connectivity, the ability to form what Silver Springs calls Micromesh, high data rates,

and the ability to automatically customize the amount of data usage within the network.

Many of these features are unique to Silver Springs, making them a leader in energy smart grids. www.silverspringnet.com 39

top 10

08 Opower Opwer’s innovative thermostat management system looks to change the way customers engage with their thermostats using smart grid connectivity.

Based on a customer’s usage, utilities will let them know they’re eligible for a smart thermostat.

Once they receive their thermostat, the customer can customize their usage to suit 40

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their needs. The customer’s utility will track their usage and make setting suggestions.

These include savings figures for adjusting the thermostat. The thermostat’s app will also let the customer know what others are doing in terms of keeping costs down and will make suggestions on how they can proceed. www.opower.com

C o m pa n ies I n n ovati n g U si n g the S m a r t G r id

Schneider Electric Using their “prosumer solution,” Schneider Electric aims to make controlling the smart grid from a business and homeowner standpoint much easier. Using customized software, “prosumers”

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can help with demand response programs, automate and manage their usage, and improve overall power reliability, making for a more stable grid with less price fluctuations. www.schneider-electric.com

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S&C The company’s PureWave UPS System offers uninterrupted power and operates with a reduced carbon footprint.

It’s highly energy efficient and can be coordinated seamlessly

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with a backup generator.

S&C claims to allow up to 60 seconds of power, enough for the company’s self-healing grid to work. www.sandc.com

Siemens Siemens offers its SIGUARD suite of smart grid management tools in three separate forms, which can be used independently or in conjunction with one another.

It offers it’s Dynamic Security Assessment (DSA), Protection

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Security Assessment (PSA), and Phasor Data Processor to ensure smart grids run safely, are protected, and produce data that can be analyzed and used to improve service and efficiency.

www.siemens.com

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top 10

Itron Itron is utilizing the smart grid to better implement electric vehicle charging station, which they hope to make more efficient and better suited to the needs of EV owners.

The stations offer a wide 44

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host of analytic data that can be used to help improve and assess future needs and features.

They’re also Wi-Fi enabled, making local access a breeze.

www.itron.com

C o m pa n ies I n n ovati n g U si n g the S m a r t G r id

IBM IBM tackles the smart grid from all angles. From people, to data, and of course security, IBM is a leader in the smart grid industry.

In addition to patrolling the physical grid, IBM uses analytics to beef up smart grid security

by using data and trends to indicate suspicious patterns that may be security breaches.

IBM is thinking on a large scale and is working to provide support to make bigger grids a safe reality. www.ibm.com

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C o m pa n ies I n n ovati n g U si n g the S m a r t G r id

CISCO Cisco, like IBM, takes a very much multi-faceted approach to its smart grid operations. Its GridBlocks Architecture sets it apart from the pack, though.

Cisco aims to make grid improvements in the short term that will effectively impact the long term. Their hope is to make grid technology more accessible and affordable, a key factor they see playing in to the success of the grid in the long term. They believe that moving in phases will help transform utilities over time. www.cisco.com

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top 10

ABB ABB has a number innovative smart grid projects underway.

Working around the world, ABB is helping implement smart grid technology for a wide swath of people. ABB is focused on not just grids, but smart cities.

Using smart grid technology, ABB hopes to make energy monitoring and usage easier for residential and business customers. They essentially are aiming to take the smart grid beyond just the grid. www.abb.com

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Nuclear Industry Association prepares for challenges within its sec Written by: Keith Parker, NIA Chief Executive

r ctor 51

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ITER Fusion Reactor

“The Nuclear Industry Association is the trade association and representative voice of Britain’s civil nuclear industry” – Keith Parker, Chief Executive

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he Nuclear Industry Association is gearing up to meet major changes within the sector as the UK launches a rebuild programme to meet the requirements of the nation’s power generation supply.

In this special Q&A from Keith Parker, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Association, he discusses what the association is all about and what role it will play in the challenges that lie ahead.

Q: Tell us a little about the role and goals of the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA)?

A: The Nuclear Industry Association is the trade

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Key Personnel

Keith Parker Chief Executive

association and representative voice of Britain’s civil nuclear industry.

It represents more than 270 companies including nuclear power station operators, those engaged in decommissioning, waste management, nuclear liabilities management and all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear equipment suppliers, engineering and construction firms, nuclear research organisations, and legal, financial and consultancy companies.

We have two main roles: acting as the voice of the nuclear industry making the case for nuclear to a range of influential audiences

Keith has been Chief Executive since September 2003. Keith joined the Nuclear Industry Association in December 1995 from the DTI and in March 1997 became Head of Corporate Communications, accountable for the strategic direction of the Associations communications, public affairs, media relations and issue management programmes.

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N u c l ea r in d u s t r y a s s o c iat i o n

The UK Electricity Mix

Nuclear 19%

Renewables 9.8% Hydro 1.5% Other 1.6%

Coal 39% Gas 28%

Oil 0.9%

Source: DECC, 2013 Digest of UK Energy S

Nuclear Industry Association is a company limited by guarantee registered in England No. 2804518. Registered Office: Carlton House, 22a St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4JH

“ In the next 10 years or so all the UK’s current nuclear power stations will be at the end of their life” – Keith Parker

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WWW.NIAUK.ORG

including Government, Parliament and the media; and supporting the commercial interests of our members at home and abroad.

Q: With all current power stations due to be shut down in the mid-2020s, what is industry doing to prepare for this?

A: In the next 10 years or so all the UK’s current nuclear power stations will be at the end of their life. This will have a significant impact on power generation and is why the new build programme

is so important.

The State Aid application for the first of these stations, Hinkley Point C, is currently before the EU Commission. We believe this will reach its conclusion by the autumn. The way will then be clear for the project to get fully underway following EDF’s Final Investment Decision.

Two further new build consortia are key to the UK’s new build programme; Horizon who will develop reactors at Oldbury and Wylfa; and NuGen at Moorside.

The nuclear new build programme will be a major engine for growth for the UK nuclear supply chain and the economy more generally.

It will open up many opportunities for small and medium-sized companies (SME) in the nuclear supply chain. We’re looking for our larger member companies to help mentor these SMEs. There are also opportunities through Statistics decommissioning, with the Nuclear G Decommissioning Authority (NDA) also looking at how to pair small firms who want to work on upcoming projects around the country with industry professionals.

The NDA has set itself the challenge of increasing its SME content from 11 percent to 20 percent and is making good progress already.

Ensuring there are people with the right skills coming into the industry is imperative – not only to deal with decommissioning, but in addition we will need 25,000 people for the new build project at Hinkley Point C.

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Mini submarine ROV

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Cooling towers

N ia The NIA has recently launched re:generation, a project to increase young people’s knowledge of the nuclear sector so they are aware of the breadth of opportunities available.

Q: What is the scale of the challenge for the nuclear industry in regards to perception and meeting low carbon energy targets?

A: Nuclear has a vital role to play in meeting the UK’s energy and climate change obligations.

Around 20-25 percent of the energy used to power homes and businesses comes from nuclear power. Together with renewables and clean coal it can reduce UK carbon emissions as part of a diverse energy mix.

The UK needs 60GW of new electricity generating capacity, and the infrastructure to run this, by 2025 – just under a quarter of this (16GW) will come from nuclear.

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“ Around 20-25 percent of the energy used to power homes and businesses comes from nuclear power.

Together with renewables and clean coal it can reduce UK carbon emissions as part of a diverse energy mix” – Keith Parker

Q: How will technology help UK power stations become more effective?

A: Most current plant technology is Gen I or Gen II. The reactors going through the GDA process for Oldbury and Wylfa are Gen III which make more use of passive and advanced safety features.

The AP1000 reactors which NuGen want to use at the Moorside plant are Gen III+. The advantage of newer reactor designs is that they can make use of modern design construction techniques, allowing tasks traditionally w w w. n i a u k . o r g

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Researching

performed in sequence to be done in parallel.

This approach cuts the time it takes to build, reducing both cost and minimising risk.

Looking beyond the current nuclear new build programme it is crucial to keep a wide range of technological options open so the UK can build more nuclear plants should increases in demand require it.

Nuclear station

Q: It’s an exciting time for the UK civil nuclear sector, how will this benefit UKplc?

A: A major nuclear new build programme will lead 58

August 2014

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Association Information A SSOC I A T I O N TY P E

Trade Association LOC A T I O N

London founded

Not disclosed No. of Me m b e rs

270+ Helping to guide the careers of young people in the industry

to both industrial and employment benefits. Not only in the supply chain as I’ve already mentioned, but also through manufacturing and construction.

The programme will give the economy a major boost with the think tank IPPR suggesting new nuclear could boost the economy by £5 billion.

Once the projects get underway each one is expected to create around 25,000 new jobs.

Through our re:generation project we’re talking to young people working in the nuclear industry.

We want to speak to people faced with the challenge of where to take their careers and give them a career path they may not have considered. w w w. n i a u k . o r g

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Fosroc enjoys global recognition through local focus

The British Heritage construction materials organisation has always had a keen eye for capitalising on emerging markets and has subsequently become a leading solutions provider of choice on an international scale Written by: Matthew Staff and Produced by: James Pepper 61

Fosroc

F

osroc has made a name for itself over the past 60 years in bringing the most innovative and tailored constructive solutions to the architect, design and construction sectors, and continues to find differentiators through its dynamism and flexibility.

The ability to act locally despite being an international player in the market is a facet that the company has worked hard on since being established in the UK initially, and since being bought by holding company, JMH Group in 2003 and the organisation’s relocation of its head office to Dubai, Fosroc’s global influence and entrepreneurial flair has taken on new dimensions once again.

Chief Executive Officer, André Ladurelli explained: “In contrast to our competition, we don’t tie ourselves down to bulk chemicals

Warehouse racking

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upstream and trying to find a home for one specific material. We’re free to recommend the best technology rather than being driven by one particular response.”

Fosroc is now in a position to liaise and evaluate with its customers the most appropriate solution for what they’re trying to achieve, agnostic to the base chemicals behind it.

“We just want to deliver what is best to the customer and that’s what sets us apart from some of our peers,” Ladurelli continued. “We provide expertise in the little corners of what our customers are trying to do, providing peer-topeer basis solutions for engineering problems to ultimately find a number of ways to create value for different partners throughout the chain.”

Locals run the show A key aspect of Fosroc’s customer-focused strategy has revolved around international saturation and subsequent proximity to its clients, both current and prospective.

This is summed up the company’s ethos, ‘the locals run the show’, ensuring that varying climatic conditions and regional trends are prepared and accounted for.

“A lot of the success in the industry is about proximity to the customer and we’re very entrepreneurial in that respect,” Ladurelli said. “Different conditions call for different cements, aggregates and climatic considerations because it varies the way that

Key Personnel

André Ladurelli CEO

“We just want to deliver what is best to the customer and that’s what sets us apart from some of our peers” – André Ladurelli

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Fosroc

“A lot of the success in the industry is about proximity to the customer and we’re very entrepreneurial in that respect” – André Ladurelli, CEO

different materials are going to perform.

“Our expertise is in delivering consistency of performance in these different circumstances.”

Manufacturing locally is core to the success of this ethos and has seen Fosroc expand over the years through the Middle East, into Asia and further into emerging markets, culminating in its headquarters in Dubai.

Overall, Fosroc now has a presence across 20 countries with the Middle East and India proving especially fruitful at present where the quality and technologies behind the company’s products have been very well received.

Featured project: Wynn Palace Fosroc’s US$2.5 billion Wynn Palace Project on the Cotai Strip in Macau will comprise a luxury 2,000-room hotel and a mixed-use area used for gaming, dining, retail, convention facilities, a nightclub, and specialist attractions across 210,000 square metres of construction.

The key to the complex’s success will be the use of Fosroc’s complete basement solution, Proofex Engage, which will include the joints, pile cap and pile head waterproofing. The client will subsequently benefit not only from the quality of installation synonymous with Fosroc, but by the versatility of the product which will lend itself to fast and easy application throughout the construction process.

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High profile projects

The company already has a keen eye on potential areas of further expansion though as Ladurelli explained: “We’ve got an active pipeline of new territories so we opened new operating companies last year in Vietnam and in Iraq. I was also in Myanmar recently where we’re looking to become the first British firm and the first construction chemicals company to manufacture there.

“Beyond that we’re looking very seriously around Central Asia, the Caspian region and Sub-Saharan Africa as the next ports of call.

“We act both locally and globally, in a joined up way, because contractors are operating the same way and that’s what our customers expect from us.”

Waterproofing

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A PROUD PARTNER O

As an aspiring leader in distribution businesses, DIA33 is committed to deliver the best products to it’s valued customers. As an aspiring leader in distribution businesses, DIA33 is committed to continue as a responsible corporate citizen with a sincere focus on safety, health, environment, and sustainability.

5 Continents 26 Countries 12 Offices

FOSROC “We support Fosroc in their current and future endeavors, assisting them closely in developing newer enviromentally friendly low VOC products to enhance the living conditions of the community.“

OF

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We source and

market products from more than 70 producers worldwide and offer more than 800 different kinds of products, including the leading global chemical manufacturers.

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supplier profile

dia33

Today DIA33 is proud to serve more than 230 customers in more than 26 countries, representing nearly every major industry and a highly diverse set of end markets with its team of over 40 professionals and effective sales force of over 20 highly motivated chemical engineers and technocrats, who constantly deliver to the cause of our customers and suppliers In addition to our fast growing product offering, we provide important value-added services for our customers and supply chain partner, which includes: · Handling and managing bulk shipments. · Customized blending and repackaging solutions. · Global logistics solutions. · Supply chain and warehousing solutions. · Technical consultancy.

Our scale, geographic reach, diversified distribution channels, industry expertise and comprehensive product portfolio enable us to develop strong, long-term relationships with our suppliers and to provide one stop solution for our valued customers.

Website: www.dia33.com

Fosroc High profile projects Excelling in its work around the lifecycle of concrete, environmental considerations, the characteristics of its products and the technological complexities of fusing engineering and chemistry has subsequently led to Fosroc receiving numerous large scale projects in recent years.

This has included beating numerous international competitors to the high profile job of delivering strong concrete to the Worli high rise tower project, being built by Samsung in Mumbai.

Comprising both residential and commercial entities, a specific set of performance characteristics were required, and as Fosroc has proved time and time again, it is these niche specifications which the company thrives on.

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Fusing engineering and chemistry

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速

The Experts in Quality Manufacturer of modified bituminous roofing and waterproofing membranes Protection boards Acoustical panels and waterproofing liquids

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速 WATERPROOFING IND.

E-Mail: dermabit@dermabit.com.sa Website: www.dermabit.net

GREEN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY The most Environment-oriented Chemicals l Construction Chemicals for Admixtures l UV Monomers/Oligomers l Metal Coating Chemicals for Automobile l Chemical Additives for Industries l Performance Chemicals www.gat.or.kr

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Fosroc

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“If you take the Burj El Arab Hotel in Dubai for example, it is built in the sea and has three layers of basement under water level,” Ladurelli said. “We gave them a waterproofing solution for that underground structure which after 10 years is still in perfect condition.

“We also provide specialty coatings for structures like car park decking systems as well as providing a range of sealants which you’re likely to see in numerous airports at present.”

The scale of the projects being entrusted with Fosroc are epitomised by a $1.2 billion hotel resort and enormous casino being built in Macau, which has similarly required an extensive waterproofing job covering the size of several football pitches.

Another feather in the company’s cap has been

“..typically our specification engineers will be sitting with designers working over the plans and how to adapt and solve problems simultaneously” – André Ladurelli

Work behind the scenes

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Knowledge@detecon:

Support from strategy through to implementation

We make ICT strategies work

www.detecon.com info@detecon.com

Fosroc providing concrete and waterproofing solutions for an underground tunnel, providing the largest pre-cast element in Asia which has recently been sunk into the bottom of the Hong Kong bay.

Consistent quality While the industry success of Fosroc is all too clear to see, it is the work going on behind the scenes which Ladurelli makes special commendation to, primarily regarding business relationships; both with partners and especially employees.

“We are very flexible in terms of the way we design our solutions; typically our specification engineers will be sitting with designers working over the plans and how to adapt and solve

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“When things do become challenging or go wrong for our customers, we also then have the depth of competence knowhow to solve the problem” – André Ladurelli

On-site inspection

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National Distribution centre

“There are a number of sectors where we’ll become increasingly active and it’s our focus to behave in these sectors in a consistent manner so that you get one Fosroc, everywhere” – André Ladurelli

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problems simultaneously,” the CEO said.

“When things do become challenging or go wrong for our customers, we also then have the depth of competence knowhow to solve the problem with our extensive repair range as we go along and then address new or emerging requirements on the construction site.

Employees are hired with an expertise and expectancy to be able to engage with clients on a peer-to-peer basis and are given specific training and international experience to ensure that they reach their potential with a sense of pride and determination that is exemplified by the company’s aptly named Warrior Programme reserved for sales personnel.

All of this internal ability is complemented by the pivotal external customers partnerships though, as Ladurelli said: “In any given structure

E u r ope

Company Information Industry

Construction chemicals h ea d q u a r t e r s

Dubai founded

1969 e m p l o y ee s

there’s a huge amount of detail required and it’s impossible for one individual to know it all. What you need is trusted partners who are experts in their given field and who understand what you’re trying to achieve in order to quickly and easily give you workable, sensible, quality solution to what you’re doing.

“Over the next five years, we have the opportunity to build on these customer partnerships to increase our strength across Asia and our entire existing footprint, while there’s also a big opportunity to test ourselves as sectorial specialists.

“There are a number of sectors where we’ll become increasingly active and it’s our focus to behave in these sectors in a consistent manner so that you get one Fosroc, everywhere.”

1,700 r e v en u e

N/A products/ services

Constructive solutions, construction chemicals, cement and concrete technology, waterproofing, fireproofing, sealants

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Aluma Systems

Aluma Systems is More Than Just its Scaffolding

The company deeply integrates safety, its workforce, and p way in industrial services.

Written by: Kevin Smead

Produced by: Aaron Wells

n

productivity efforts to lead in the

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Aluma Systems

S

ince 1972, Aluma Systems has provided customized solutions in the areas of scaffolding, insulation, coating, fireproofing, rope access, and concrete construction. Aluma Systems Canada is a subsidiary of Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, one of North America’s leading specialty service providers for energy markets.

As exemplars in their field, Aluma Systems focused on three key components that make their services highly effective and so sought after: its intense commitment to safety, its highly-skilled team, 78

August 2014

and its focus on increased on- and off-the-job productivity. While each factor is important in its own right, Aluma Systems’ integration of all three makes its approach to business unique.

Safety as a Top-Priority First and foremost, Aluma Systems is committed to the safety of all those affiliated with any of its various job sites, from its contractors to the customers.

“We identify and mitigate risk before it occurs,” Vice President of Western Operations Mick Herke said.

To do this, Aluma takes cues from

ca n ada

the way it approaches productivity, which Herke believes has very close ties to safety.

“We align our productivity program with our safety program,” Herke explained. “We calibrate our supervision on our production capabilities—whether its scaffolding, insulation, or coatings—so everyone understands on a daily basis how we’re performing to expectations.”

The data collected from these observations is then assessed, analyzed, and shared across all of Aluma Systems’ different job sites around the globe. This ensures that all sites are using best practices at

all times, rather than just one.

“If somebody in Europe has come up with a new idea that would be applicable in Western Canada, that information is shared on an ongoing basis,” he explained.

This also is effective in helping any job sites that may be underperforming.

Most importantly, this open system of communication keeps the job sites and all involved safe.

Herke believes that rigorous safety practices help keep costs down across the board.

“All of these things roll into managing the cost for our w w w. a l u m a . c o m

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Aluma Systems customer,” he said. “Being safe and productive also allows for significant cost savings from an insurance perspective.”

Training Industry Leaders While safety and productivity are vital, much of Aluma Systems’ success starts with its employees.

“The team makes it all happen,” Herke said. “From the supervision at our job sites, to our management, to the leadership training and education we provide, we create industry leaders in the specialty services because of our processes and our philosophies.”

One way this is exemplified is through Aluma’s new rope access training center. While scaffolding services remain Aluma Systems’ core business, rope access is a quick and effective way to reach sections of a project in which scaffolding isn’t the most cost effective option.

Herke explained that a vital component of rope access is training the people who utilize rope access to perform duties at the top of the rope.

“So of course safety is integral

ca n ada

to that service,” he said. “We’re ensuring that the people who we will employ to from a craft perspective, to access the rope, are properly trained.”

In addition to the focus on its employees, Aluma reaches out to the communities in which it works both from an employment and community support perspective.

“We’re conscientious about working with local communities to hire people and we’re very closely integrated with the aboriginal communities in the various areas in which we work with the intent to provide employment for a number of their people,” Herke said.

Fostering Productivity With such a focus on safety and a highly-skilled team, it would seem that productivity would be a given for Aluma Systems. Herke argues, however, that it comes to being proactive in implementing lessons learned and always employing best practices.

“It’s all very well talking through the issue, but then you’ve got to take some action,” he said. “We’re very action-oriented in getting things w w w. a l u m a . c o m

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Aluma Systems

done when it makes sense from a value and service perspective to our customers.”

This is evident in the more than 5,000,000 workforce hours Aluma Systems put into Western Canada last year providing services for various industries. The services are more specific rather than general, as well. Aluma adapts its solutions for each job site, ensuring that the job is done in the most effective and efficient manner.

“We make specific components dependent upon a particular 82

August 2014

application,” Herke said. “They’re pretty much customized to fix an issue that we’ve identified at a particular site. We develop customized solutions to address particular problems at the customer’s site to reduce costs and drive productivity.”

Aluma Systems knows there’s always room for improvement, and is working to increase its productivity daily.

“We develop a lot of tools not only for project execution but also for project monitoring so we know

ca n ada

Company Information Industry

Construction h ea d q u a r t e r s

Ontario, Canada founded

1972 e m p l o y ee s

5000

how we’re performing on a daily basis,” Herke said. “We do this so we can understand where we’re underperforming and then put the lessons learned, best practices, or new initiatives in place to drive continuous improvement so we’re serving the customer at a high level of value.”

While Aluma does have retail and other operations, the bulk of its business is service-based.

The interconnectivity of safety, an effective workforce, and productivity are what make Aluma Systems ultimately productive and successful. All of these factors lead to better overall execution in the field, and according to Herke, “Field execution is what really drives productivity.”

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Region of Peel, Twinning Trunk Sewer Project

Double Vision: Twinning the R West Trunk Sewer

The project is one of Canada’s largest linear wastewater pr Written by: Kevin Smead

Produced by: Michael Magno

g of the West

Region of Peel’s

rojects in both size and scope.

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c o m pan y na m e

The Regional Municipality of Peel’s motto is “Working for you.”

With its West Trunk Sewer project, that’s exactly what they’re doing.

Located in Southern Ontario, Peel Region is currently home to one of the largest linear wastewater projects in all of Canada. Through the Region’s Water and Wastewater Master Plan, the Region identified 86

August 2014

a need to upgrade its current wastewater infrastructure and it hopes to do so in a way that ensures future upgrades are not needed for the next 50 to 100 years.

The project spans a great length at nearly 14.5 kilometers and runs from Highway 401 in the North, to just north of Queen Elizabeth Parkway in the City of Mississauga

secto r

An environmental assessment completed in 2009 found that Twinning the existing West Trunk Sewer system the best course of action. The process of “twinning� is as simple as adding another pipe, but of course is much more complicated than that in a project with as many factors as this one.

The existing system is almost 50 years old and is in need of serious rehabilitation. Development pressure within the Region and a push for infill

Simon HoptonDirector, Wastewater Division

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87

Re g i o n o f P ee l intensification also are driving factors behind the project.

The existing sewer pipe capacity is also nearing its maximum capacity and leaving no room for new growth. By twinning the sewer—and essentially adding a second pipe— capacity will be greatly increased.

C Class EA, often reserved for complicated and large-scale construction of new facilities or major expansions to existing facilities, the project went through a five-phased environmental planning process. This takes into account not only the environmental impact of the project, but the socioeconomic Community Involvement impacts to the public and local With the scale and scope of the economy as well. project, public input is extremely Essentially, the project began important. Because the construction with a problem statement. Various area is 14.5 km long and runs alternatives were explored until a through densely populated portions short list was developed. This is of Mississauga, the project has when stakeholders were engaged, potential to impact the public. such as Canadian Pacific Railway, Minimizing impact was a main Ministry of Transportation and the focus when planning the project.

Credit Valley Conservation Authority, The project team decided against since they would be directly open-cut construction, which would impacted by the construction. significantly affect traffic. There are Ensuring Successful also a number of crossings in the project area, including creeks, river, Construction highways, and rail crossings. Various The construction itself is also quite stakeholders were engaged early on the feat, as it is being completed in the planning stages for their input entirely underground. Using two different types of tunnel boring and approval. machines—rock and earth pressure As it is, the project underwent a balance—crews working at a depth Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment process For a Schedule up to 55 meters underground

ca n ada

will have to tunnel through solid shale bedrock and mixed ground conditions to twin the sewer.

The construction is being tendered under two contacts, the first of which was awarded to McNally Construction Inc. and is currently under construction. The second contract will be tendered sometime later this summer.

WSP Canada Inc. is the Design Consultant for the project and is also providing contract administration and inspection services during the construction phase.

Golder Associates Ltd. is providing the geotechnical services relating to this project. During the geotechnical investigation, it was discovered that methane gas was present in some pockets of the shale bedrock, adding a layer of complexity to the construction. The gas’ presence at the construction’s depth is not uncommon, but the pressure at which it was released is.

Golder had to coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources to drill special bore holes to verify the extent of the presence of the w w w. p e e l r e g i o n . c a

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DANYLE GROUP INC.

WE SPECIALIZE IN EARTH HAULING. 51 Shorncliffe Rd. Unit #3 Toronto, ON M8Z 5K2

P: 416.239.2009 F: 416.234.1260 danylegroup.com 90

August 2014

methane gas and analyze the impact it would have on the proposed tunnel construction. Based on the geotechnical findings special electrical classifications for the tunnel boring machines were specified for. This ensures that if the contractor hits gas in the tunneling process, there would be sufficient protections in place to ensure the safety of the construction workers, infrastructure and the public. Of course, safety is a top priority for a successful implementation of any construction project.

ca n ada

Company Information Industry

Water Project / Infrastructure h ea d q u a r t e r s

Ontario, Canada e m p l o y ee s

50+

This is one of most expansive project relating to wastewater collection system in Canada, costing around $160 million. Upon completion, sewage will begin flowing into the trunk’s system, thus achieving the project’s goal.

Key personnel on the project include Peel Region’s Project Manager Ajay Puri, McNally Construction’s Jeff Reid, and WSP Canada’s Project Manager Chad Stephen.

Both contracts are expected to be completed in summer/fall of 2016.

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Magnetic Analysis Corporation:

Scaling Up for the Energy S

MAC VP of Sales Dudley Boden discusses entering the O market for oil and gas and how the company has met the challenges of this fast growing industry Written by: Sasha Orman

Produced by: Alex Hortaridis

Sector

OCTG e

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Ma g ne t i c A na ly s i s C o r p o r at i o n

The Ultrasonic Test Head Mechanism was then adapted to be used for the inspection of spinning tubular and bar product. As demonstrated, there are 2 test heads at the bottom of the tube. Bellow the head is a water tank. System 2014 Ten years ago, Magnetic Analysis Corporation (MAC) was in the business of nondestructive testing for the metals industry, running eddy current and flux leakage testing and analysis on pipes and structures for a variety of sectors. The energy sector was not a major part the business – but when the need for oil and natural gas pipelines began to expand over the last decade, MAC saw an opportunity.

“Ten years ago, we started to get much more active in the oil country tubular goods (OCTG) market, and that was good timing for us because that was when that market was really starting to take off all over 94

August 2014

the world,” says Dudley Boden, VP of Operations at MAC. “It was really where the opportunities were at that point, and we had the right technology – in some cases all we had to do was make larger versions of the testers we were making, make more integrated systems with multiple types of testers in one line, in order to meet the requirements of that market. We just needed to adapt a little bit to go into that market. Now that’s become a big part of our business both here in the US and overseas.”

Today MAC stands as a major force in oil and gas, using an array of testing capabilities to ensure that

USA

A pre-acceptance test at the MAC plant of a Longitudinal Flux Leakage Rotary system for automotive tubular products of varying wall thicknesses. 2011 System

the pipelines the industry relies on are strong and ready to perform.

Shifting Gears and a Unique Advantage for a New Market Years of experience in nondestructive metals testing has given Magnetic Analysis Corporation the unique advantage of having a range of testing equipment meant for various applications that can now be applied to the pipeline industry.

“Not many of our competitors, in the OCTG market or anywhere else, have all the different types of technology that we offer,” says Boden.

“Either they focus more on ultrasonic testing or eddy current or flux leakage testing – but almost none of them have all of it. We’re one of the only manufacturers who have all of that, so we can put a complete package together

“Probably our biggest investments in last few years are in scaling up our products” – says Boden

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Ma g ne t i c A na ly s i s C o r p o r at i o n without subcontracting out to someone else or going through separate vendors. That’s a huge advantage for us in this market.”

Still, every new sector brings its own unique set of challenges and oil and gas has been no different. Since entering this market, MAC has invested significantly in retooling its equipment and testing capabilities to take on these challenges.

“Probably our biggest investments in last few Ultrasonic Rotary, Demagnetizer, years are in scaling up our products,” says Boden.

Longitudinal Flux “Ten years ago, our largest ultrasonic rotary tester leakage Rotary, Transverse Flux Leakage could test 5-inch (127mm) material as a maximum Rotary, all mounted on MAC’s Triple Guide Roll – now we’ve produced an ultrasonic rotary that Constant Center Bench for a company in Russia

R.G. SMITH TOOL & MFG.CO. Precision Machine Work, CNC Machining Fabrication, Machine Repair High quality products for the metallurgical, food, plastics, chemical, transportation, and pharmaceutical industries since 1922.

Phone: (973) 344-1395 Fax: (973)344-1387 info@rgsmithtool.com

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can test up to 20-inch (500mm) material. That’s a much bigger product, which is required for OCTG. It’s the same with our flux leakage tester – our largest flux leakage tester was (15.75-inch) 400mm, and now we’re up to 500mm. A lot of our product development has been scaling up our mechanics, our drive systems, and our conveyors to handle these larger products.”

Beyond scaling up, MAC has also invested in the development of altogether new technologies to test more accurately for the industries it serves.

“The infrared testing system we’re just starting to introduce is a unique technology for doing surface defects, totally noncontact, and offer some unique advantages,” Boden adds. “We’re doing that with a partner, and we continue to develop and come out with new versions of our electronics that support each of these kinds of testers.”

Driving Customer Service One guarantee that Magnetic Analysis Corp makes to its customers is that, wherever its products are sold, it has the local capacity to provide comprehensive service and support.

As Boden explains, this service is crucial for manufacturers with their own tight schedules.

“Sometimes our products are in the production line itself, sometimes they’re in an offline test system – but in either case, they’re unable to ship product if it hasn’t been tested,” he says.

“We shut down the factory if our equipment isn’t operating. So it’s very important to be able to

“Either they focus more on ultrasonic testing or eddy current or flux leakage testing – but almost none of them have all of it. We’re one of the only manufacturers who have all of that, so we can put a complete package together without subcontracting out to someone else or going through separate vendors.

That’s a huge advantage for us in this market.”

– Dudley Boden President & CEO

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In this instance, we have a system installed in India for inspecting OCTG. Longitudinal & Transverse Flux leakage Rotaries on MAC’s “V” Roll Pinch 2008 System respond quickly and get people with the proper skills on site in a hurry, to get equipment back up and running if there’s any kind of problem. We then also have somebody who can go there and spend time with the customer at initial delivery, learning about their operation and making sure we provide the right equipment in the first place.”

This responsiveness is part of MAC’s commitment to customer service. The company’s most important asset beyond its comprehensive testing capabilities, it has turned MAC’s relative size in the industry into agility and an asset. “In this day and age every customer wants things 98

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Company Information Industry

Manufacturing, Heavy Machinery, NDT, Metals h ea d q u a r t e r s

Elmsford NY USA founded

1928 e m p l o y ee s

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Ultrasonic Rotary, Demagnetizer, Stand Test Bench.

r e v en u e

30+ Million

a little bit different, whether it’s the paperwork side of things or actual equipment requirements,” products/ services says Boden. “They are looking for levels of customization, or to fit a product into a space that www.mac-ndt.com may not be ideal. What we find is, while virtually all of our competitors make standard offerings, https://www.facebook.com/ we customize down to the level of wanting MagneticAnalysis something painted a different color. If it comes to reengineering your product to fit very specifichttps://twitter.com/MacNDT parameters, we will. That’s a big advantage of us being small and responsive.” http://www.linkedin.com/ company/magnetic-analysiscorporation w w w. m a c - n d t . c o m

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Moulton Niguel Water Di

Moulton Niguel Water Distric Manages California’s Drough

By focusing on service and a clear plan for the future, the M keeping the district on course in a time of trouble.

Written by: Kevin Smead

Produced by: James Gilligan

istrict

ct Effectively ht Crisis

Moulton Niguel Water District is

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Partial Service Area View

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t’s no secret California has a water crisis. Even idyllic Southern California isn’t immune to the widespread effects of the drought.

However, in this time of extreme difficulty, South Orange County’s Moulton Niguel Water District is forging ahead with a focus on partnership, conservation, and service. The District is developing and updating planning documents for infrastructure management, financial stability, water resources, and water shortage contingency plans in a comprehensive manner to use a strategic guide for the future 102

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needs of the District’s customers.

“We’re taking all the great work that’s been done throughout the history of this District and building on that to give us a roadmap for the future,” General Manager Joone Lopez said. “We’ve done really well over the years and have an outstanding financial position, but we know there are a lot of challenges ahead. To address these future challenges, it’s important to plan thoroughly and communicate effectively with the communities and customers we serve.”

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Open Channels of Communication Outreach is a major part of Moulton Niguel’s operating strategy.

“We work hard to maintain our relationship with our customers and surrounding agencies and share with everyone what we’re doing and getting feedback from them,” Lopez said. “I think that also sets us apart. We’re committed to building partnerships and working together as a region to collaborate on ideas and projects. The personal relationship that we built with various entities in our region

has allowed us to pull resources together to provide services in the most cost effective manner.”

The District believes in meeting people where they are, rather than having people come to them. Be it out in the community, at council meetings, via its website, or its bill insert, the District is working to actively engage its customers.

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Moulton Niguel is also working to facilitate regional partnerships with nearby agencies and the 5 different cities the District serves.

“We have worked hard to develop strong partnerships with all our local agencies and create a unified approach to meeting the water needs of not only our service area, but also the needs of the region and California. We are meeting with multiple agencies through various forums to discuss and address critical water supply, operational, and regulatory issues that affect everyone here in South Orange County and the state” Lopez said.

One such project it’s collaborating on is the 28 million gallon per day Baker Water Treatment Plant, which will be completed in 2016. Along with 4 other water agencies, Moulton Niguel will be a major stakeholder in this water treatment facility in Lake Forest, California, which will increase local reliability and extend the District’s ability to serve its customers with adequate water supplies during emergency situations.

Stepping Up Conservation Emergency situations may come sooner rather than later, though, due to California’s crippling drought. Lopez feels that Moulton Niguel’s forward-thinking policies put them in a good position to handle the crisis.

“For many years, the District has been proactive—and even visionary—in our conservation efforts,” she said. “We provide rebate incentives for various programs and devices, and have for many years. We also have recently implemented an allocationbased rate structure that’s fairly progressive, which we call our Water Budget Based Rate Structure.”

This proactive rate structure takes several factors into account to customize a water budget for each individual customer based on their own water needs. Using more water means rates are paid in a higher tier, which is allowed, and the money goes toward water efficiency, conservation and reliability efforts within the community. It’s a rate structure the State of California is becoming increasingly interested in, as it incentivizes using water w w w. m n w d . c o m

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M o u lt o n N i g u e l Wat e r Di s t r i c t

Main Office

Kennedy Pipeline Construction Kennedy is a full service underground construction firm that specializes in wet utilities construction for the Southern California area. Kennedy has the capability to perform the work in environmentally sensitive areas while satisfying all requirements of landowners, environmental monitors and public agencies.

A tradition of excellence in service and quality has paved the way for Kennedy Pipeline into the modern era.

www.kennedypipeline.com

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efficiently on a sustained basis.

Although Moulton Niguel has been a leader in the development of an extensive recycled water system that provides nearly 25 percent of its water needs, the District is stepping up its recycled water efforts, complete with a forthcoming long-range master plan that will maximize recycled water use in the region and minimize dependence on imported water supplies.

In addition to more longrange planning, the District is thinking short-term as well.

“We’re expanding our recycled water efforts as we speak and helping all our customers to realize how they can conserve,” Lopez said.

She also believes that successfully managing the drought requires a bigger conversation.

“We’re engaging with statewide agencies just to have a dialogue about water concerns and drought emergencies since it’s not just

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something that happens in one part of the state,” Lopez said. “We wanted to have a much more collaborative discussion on how to move forward, because the drought will continue and drought will happen again.”

“Leading the Way in Service” What’s most important to Moulton Niguel, though, is that it provides the best possible service to its 165,000 customers, whether the state’s in crisis or not. The District’s slogan, “Leading the Way in Service,” is something it aims to practice and improve on daily.

“We take service as the most important aspect of what we do,” Lopez said. “The people we have in this organization are—in my opinion—what makes our agency the best. They take great care and pride in their work as illustrated by numerous compliments from our customers. Seeing them in action and hearing from our customers continues to reinforce our commitment to service.”

Lopez believes that no matter what, the customers come first. “Sometimes we forget that,” she admits. “We get stuck in the grind of what we’re doing. But to value service, and take great pride in the level of excellence in customer service we provide, that’s what’s unique about our District and that’s why we have that slogan. We see ourselves as being leaders in that regard.”

Company Information Industry

Water / Power h ea d q u a r t e r s

27500 La Paz Rd. Laguna Niguel California founded

1960 e m p l o y ee s

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https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Moulton-Niguel-WaterDistrict/149534428422505

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REMONDIS Australia:

Remondis Australia: Water, Waste and Environmental Services REMONDIS Australia currently provides waste-collection services to more than 15,000 commercial customers Written by: Laura Close Produced by: James Hayes

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Canberra

REMONDIS AUSTRALIA IS one of Australia’s leading wastemanagement companies, offering comprehensive collection, treatment, and disposal solutions and services for commercial and municipal customers. Dedicated to service excellence, REMONDIS Australia works in partnership with customers to deliver innovative, safe, and reliable solutions and services that support customers to improve operational performance and meet sustainability targets.

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and reuse solutions, REMONDIS Australia is capable of achieving significant reductions in waste disposal to landfill. The company is committed to partnering with both government and business to achieve a more sustainable future-a future in which waste is a resource.

The company has grown significantly via the acquisition of Thiess Waste management Services in 2012.

Competitive Advantages REMONDIS Australia’s commitment to excellence in customer service is what CEO Luke Agati believes

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sets them apart from other waste management companies in Australia.

Whist the company ballooned in size it is still at a size where it can offer its clients excellent flexibility and customer service.

“Given our size in Australia – and it’s not insignificant - we are able to bend backwards in customising solutions for our clients,” Agati said.

“We are able to offer our clients specific resource recovery, recycling and reporting solutions.”

Their continual dialogue with their clients and their determination to stick by the client throughout the relationship helps maintain the high quality REMONDIS wants to provide.

The company’s global parent, REMONDIS International, provides their Australian subsidiary with another advantage – technological innovation.

“They are really one of the worldwide leaders in resource recovery and waste to energy; they

are in the top three or four globally,” Agati shared. “REMONDIS certainly has the technology to bring into this country to help meet company and statutory targets in terms of reducing waste that’s going to landfill.”

Steady Growth REMONDIS Australia has grown steadily via organic growth and a number of acquisitions, the most notable of which was Thiess Waste Management Services in late 2012 which exponentially grew the company.

“That acquisition not only shot us up exponentially but also created such a large footprint for us in Australia that it will allow us to springboard on future opportunities,” said Agati. “So really, that’s what has brought us to this point. In addition I can’t stress the importance of having a senior management team that shares

“Given the size that we’re at in Australia – and it’s not insignificant - we bend backwards as far as customizing solutions for our clients” w w w. r e m o n d i s . c o m . a u

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the same vision.”

By acquiring Thiess, REMONDIS more than quadrupled the size of their business and retained many of the key executives from the company. By blending them in with the current company culture – and with the addition of a successful business management system – REMONDIS has beefed up its management and executive staff ranks.

“We certainly like to introduce our efforts at schools,” commented Agati. “I think it’s really important that we can start changing the mindset”

supplier profile

Oriel Technologies

Oriel Technologies is one of Australia’s leading managed IT service providers. We offer strategic thinking, innovative infrastructure solutions, and agile services to organisations that seek business-driven IT. We aim to make the complex simple and to deliver the best possible IT services and solutions in the industry, enabling our customers to thrive in the virtual era whilst driving real business results.

Oriel’s offerings cover the spectrum of managed IT services – networking, systems, communications, support, managed WAN, infrastructure as a service, as well as private, hybrid, and public cloud. This enables Oriel to deliver a one-stop, full-service offering, reliably provisioning and supporting core IT infrastructure, with the highest level of customer care. All of our services meet the security, compliance, and flexibility standards that our customers have come to expect.

We demonstrate integrity and reliability, and aim to ultimately become a trusted partner. Our clients value our consultative approach and our ability to develop a deep understanding of their corporate environment, which allows us to help them plan for and meet their ongoing business objectives.

Website: www.remondis.com.au/ w w w. r e m o n d i s . c o m . a u

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MacDonald Johnston is Australia’s leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of refuse collection, compaction equipment, and street sweepers. Our extensive range includes the UrBin Rear Loader, FORCE Front Loader, SPORT Gen V Side Loader, CN101 Sub Compact Sweeper, CN201 Compact Sweeper, CX400 Compact Sweeper, VS651 and VT651 Truck Mounted Vacuum Sweepers, RT655 Regenerative Air Road Sweeper, the new BEAM Range of Industrial Airport Sweepers, and the MacaPak and TransPak Static Compactors.

Every MacDonald Johnston machine is application engineered, manufactured in Victoria, and supported by a passionate after-sales support team that operates 24/7, 365 days a year.

Education About half of REMONDIS’s business in Australia is municipaldriven, which includes household collections. A part of the contract that the company holds with these municipalities includes community education programmes that are implemented at schools, businesses and households. The goal of these outreach programmes is to inspire all ages to recycle and to inform people about source separating and recycling.

“I think it’s really important that we start changing the mindset so

that as children grow up they know the difference between a recycling and general waste bin.”

“Education not only benefits the environment, but there’s a financial benefit to businesses when they source separate. It generally means that they pay less in terms of waste disposal.”

For commercial and industrial contracts, REMONDIS also assists companies that are committed to bettering their practices and improving their footprint on the environment through similar education programmes.

R E MO N D I S A u s t r a l ia

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Keep Australia Beautiful For the future, REMONDIS is keen to continue their expansion plans in Australia. This will allow the company to continue to provide excellent service to even more companies and municipalities. The company is also looking to become re-involved with the ‘Keep Australia Beautiful’ initiative, which they contributed to before the acquisition of Thiess in 2012.

REMONDIS is looking to be involved on a sponsorship level, with the possibility of doing more education programmes in a greater number of schools.

“If major clients come to us and they want specific resource recovery solution, recycling solutions, specific reporting solutions on what has been recovered, which is very important in a lot of lists of groups these days, we can certainly provide that”

Company Information Industry

Waste Management h ea d q u a r t e r s

New South Wales, Australia founded

1982 e m p l o y ee s

180 products/ services

REMONDIS Australia currently provides waste-collection services to more than 15,000 commercial customers and, through partnerships with local authorities, approximately 2 million residential properties.

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New products for the ‘green’ era: Leading recycling company in Colombia Written by: America Barcelo Feldman Produced by: Jose Gustavo Diaz Interviewee: Ramon Hernando Wilches Cuervo, Chief Financial Officer, C.I. Metal Translated by: Rafael Tablado

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C . I . Me ta l C o m e r c i o The market’s renovation

C Aluminum-foil

.I. Metal Comercio S.A.S. is a leading environmental company based in Bogota, Colombia. A 30-year experience places them atop the main companies in the trade.

After establishing a partnership with several Colombian companies in 2009, C.I. Metal Comercio gathered 70 percent of the domestic market. Today, they are fourth among the leading recycling companies in Latin America and the second largest for raw material exports.

The company operates five plants in Colombia and projected growth plans include the company’s introduction into neighboring countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador.

Managerial value Ramon Hernando Wilches Cuervo is the CFO for C.I. Metal Comercio. He has been involved with the industry sector for a long time, mainly in management, supporting business departments and taking care of legal matters. This marks

“We want our company to have presence in the environmental industrial sector in the entire continent” – Ramon Hernando Wilches Cuervo, CFO, C.I. Metal Comercio 118

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E n e r g y D igital

his foray into the recycling business, and he expresses gratitude for being part of Colombia’s growing recycling and waste management industry, as his is one of the world’s leading sustainable countries.

“Colombia’s industry sector ranks number one worldwide in recycling. This is a very interesting process in our country. We stand out in this activity. Our nation’s president is constantly in contact with powerful countries with the purpose of attracting clients here,” he said.

Wilches majored in Communications,

Aluminum-foil-radiator

Steel

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C . I . Me ta l C o m e r c i o

Steel

specializing in the social development, logistics and strategy areas. During his career, Wilches has served as a consultant for growing businesses and has managed successful, innovative industrial projects.

Sheets of postindustrial aluminum, unpainted

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Corporate social responsibility C.I. Metal Comercio has created profitable and community-related projects in an effort to clean their environment and develop other companies’ interest in environmental protection. One of the measures implemented by C.I. Metal Comercio is cost reduction in the acquisition of raw material.

Social responsibility does not affect businesses exclusively, but also communities in surrounding areas that become affected by any environmental changes.

E n e r g y D igital

“The recycling industry is able to provide oxygen for the whole planet; the materials we look for --as well as garbage and junk-- can be transformed; this action is able to help cleanse our environment,” says Wilches.

Eco-friendly dynamics C.I. Metal Comercio is part of an elite group of only 200 companies in Colombia allowed to sport the “C.I.” abbreviation (‘comercializacion internacional’), standing for “international business trade,” which means they have special tax considerations for export and operations.

The company’s main role is the collection of ferrous and non-ferrous material to be compacted and/or placed in containers for export. All this scrap is sold to domestic businesses within the industrial trade to become transformed into products that require this waste as their main element, thus supplying large multinational corporations worldwide. Different sectors such as construction, food and the pharmaceutical industry benefit from materials supplied by C.I. Metal Comercio.

Copper is one of the most important materials the company supplies, since the IT industry relies heavily in this metal for manufacturing purposes (computers, tablets, mobile devices and other electronic gadgets), obtaining a cleaner product after recycling.

“We are unique among Colombian companies: our processes are quite simple and have a

“We are unique among Colombian companies: our processes are quite simple and have a positive impact on the environment” – Ramon Hernando Wilches Cuervo, CFO, C.I. Metal Comercio

Stainless Steel

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Aluminum Profile

positive impact on the environment,� says Wilches.

Lead Ingots

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Expansion in Latin America Being among the top five companies of their trade within Latin America does not stop C.I. Metal Comercio from continuous growth.

The company has presence in the Colombian cities of Barranquilla, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Bucaramanga, Medellin, Cali and Bogota, which are strategic locations for business purposes.

Aside from taking care of every single

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accomplishment achieved during their 30-year tenure, the company is open to new business and growth opportunities within their trade, C.I. Metal Comercio projects growing abroad onto Chile, Ecuador and Venezuela during 2015. “We want to have presence in the environmental industrial sector in the entire continent,� says Wilches.

Transportation by

Human Resources The company introduced industrial and occupational safety and health programs to train

Maersk Line

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C . I . Me ta l C o m e r c i o employees, decreasing the risk of labor-related accidents. As a way to show appreciation for the staff, the company offers excellent growth, training and educational opportunities, as well as offering proper insurance and health plans.

The front office is thankful to the human team’s loyalty to the company.

“We work with specialized advisors to provide our employees of a professional, safe environment to accomplish their work,” says Wilches.

Copper

Technology: resource for productivity C.I. Metal Comercio keeps at the cutting-

E n e r g y D igital

edge of software and technology; their process automation systems have been a very valuable factor for receiving ISO 9000, ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certifying.

“Constant updating has provided growth and improvement among the company’s dynamics, easing our expansion process. We are planning future investments on machinery, so we become able to offer even more materials to product manufacturers,” says Wilches.

Company Information C o m pan y

C.I. Metal Comercio Industry

Metal recycling and sales h ea d q u a r t e r s

Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia founded

Supply chain of growth The company’s suppliers have played a crucial role for C.I. Metal Comercio’s expansion, based on business relationships established in 12 countries throughout the years.

“We rely on our partners for growth, receiving support from a worldwide corporation such as Merck has been essential to our development. We nurture our relations with every single partner and supplier,” says Wilches.

1960 E m p l o y ee s

1,000 – 5,000 r e v en u e

USD $191 million E m ai l

info@cimetalcomercio.com we b s i t e

www.cimetalcomercio.com.co

Future plans During the next five years, the company will continue pursuing new projects within the sector as well as following through with expansion plans. They make up 70 percent of their domestic market, and after nationwide consolidation, C.I. Metal Comercio is expanding to the rest of Latin America.

“Our projects envision our market’s expansion worldwide,” says Wilches.

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Ingenio Monte Rosa (Pa Entrepreneurial Innovation fo Adjacent activities in Ingenio Monte Rosa have boosted their increasing the value of their products.

Written by: Rebecca Castrejon Produced by: Taybele Piven Interviewee: Bernardo Chamorro, CEO of Ingenio Monte Rosa

antaleon): or Industrial Self-Sufficiency economic power, crossing national boundaries and

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I n g eni o M o n t e R o s a ( Pan ta l e o n )

I Pantaleon talent

ngenio Monte Rosa joined Pantaleon upon acquisition in 1998. Since then, the sugar factory has followed a strategic growth plan that has exponentially increased its operations, performance and productivity.

Additionally, the company has strengthened its leadership in the sugar industry in Central America with sustainable businesses including energy generation and the upcoming construction of a distillery.

Strategic Management In November 2008, Bernardo Chamorro entered the cane guild after having successfully worked in the technology industry. Afterwards he started working in the various business units of Ingenio Monte Rosa as CFO, and then lead from the general manager post, a position he has held since 2011.

Sugar Competitiveness in Nicaragua Nicaraguan sugar factory Ingenio Monte Rosa has intensified and diversified its operations in the country, creating much-needed added value for their business. Some of these developments are: Production efficiency: Ingenio Monte Rosa is recognized for their competitiveness in costs, adding value to their products in an industry characterized by low margins and market variations.

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Energy

Investments in parallel businesses: The company has developed other related businesses through investments, such as the cogeneration of energy for the plant’s use and the sale of residual power to the country, obtaining not only savings but also subsidiary income.

Additionally, they are investing in the factory with the implementation of modern processes. “We are a self-sufficient and innovative company, which is a differentiator and a competitive advantage because it enables us to utilize our assets,� says Chamorro.

Culture of Improvements: From business management to product innovation.

Monte Rosa Products Ingenio Monte Rosa Headquarters (Pantaleon)

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I n g eni o M o n t e R o s a ( Pan ta l e o n )

Sweet competitiveness

Global Distribution In addition to the significant percentage of sugar distributed domestically, their export activities have increased their profitability in recent years thanks to free trade agreements with foreign countries and partnerships in the sector.

Countries such as the United States, Mexico and Chile have been strategic allies of Nicaragua.

The country has also increased its international presence with the European Union and Taiwan in recent years, given the free trade agreement with Asia.

Workers

Modern Industrialization Following major investments of more than $40 million, the company is consolidating its sugar milling capacity and reaching 16 thousand metric tons per day in the harvest that will begin this November.

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Energy

Their industrial processes are now 80 percent automatic and managed through digital panels; however, they are looking into reaching an automation of 100 percent.

Another transformation is the expansion of their mechanized harvest of green sugarcane (cane that isn’t cut by hand and mechanically harvested), a technique that has strengthened their production from 30 to 70 percent.

“We want to produce more sugar, bring the sugar mill to grind 18 thousand metric tons and be the largest generator of clean energy

Mechanized harvest of green sugarcane benefits:

– Bernardo Chamorro, CEO of Ingenio Monte Rosa

- Soil conservation, as the residue remains in the field.

- Fresher products, as they are delivered more quickly to the sugar cane mill.

- Increased power generation due to cane residues found in leaves.

Experienced Cutters - Training program abroad.

To promote the best cutting techniques, field leaders are transferred to the company’s research institute in Guatemala and trained in specialized methods.

- Occupational safety and preventive health.

Monte Rosa has invested in proper mechanics for the prevention of accidents and the implementation of the tools needed for a safe working environment. In addition, 40 monitoring w w w. p a n t a l e o n . c o m

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I n g eni o M o n t e R o s a ( Pan ta l e o n ) health specialists ensure that all workers comply with safety and health plans such as water ingestion, a balanced and authorized meal designed by nutritionists and proper breaks.

Responsible activities

Agricultural Advantages The mechanization of activities in Ingenio Monte Rosa has benefited their final product; proof of this is the production and commercialization of a special sugar called ICUMSA 150.

They have introduced precision farming with GPS, which enables agricultural work at any time of the day thanks to geo-localization. The tractors automatically read coordinates, providing greater efficiency to the agricultural process.

Monte Rosa has a nursery where they analyze varieties in order to find the best match.

In collaboration with Cengicaña (Centro Guatemalteco de Investigación y Capacitación de la Caña de Azúcar), an institution in Guatemala, they study adaptability to soil, climate and environmental conditions.

“This automation allows us to standardize our processes, leading to less waste. All these investments in technology and implemented improvements over the years have provided us with many benefits for the future,” says Chamorro.

More than Responsibility Ingenio Monte Rosa has the OHSAS certification for occupational health and safety; this is one of many assets the company has acquired as part

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Cutters

Automation

of their responsible activities. Another example is their social development department, which interacts with 50 communities in the surrounding areas to develop strategic plans that will improve the quality of life of the population. “We want to go further,� says Chamorro, regarding environmental protection. The sugar company complies with all of the local legislation requirements and licenses to operate. In addition, they hired a world-renowned firm that is measuring Monte Rosa’s impact in the area. w w w. p a n t a l e o n . c o m

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Energy

The Pantaleon Foundation develops programs to improve health and education in communities. For example, they opened two schools in Nicaragua that served more than 600 children and provided classes of high international standards to ensure quality. The foundation also supports child development centers with children from birth to five years old and where female workers can leave their children during working hours to receive education, motivation and food.

“We have very good interaction and open communication; we receive complaints or questions and take actions that will benefit the community,” he adds.

Human resources

Providing Developments Rather than providing products, these suppliers— or strategic allies—of Ingenio Monte Rosa deliver progress with the provision of new

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www.metaltronic.com.eca info@metaltronic.com.ec

www.maquipos.com.ni ventas@maquipos.com.ni

www.disagro.com

www.disagro.com

Energy

technologies and specialized training on the latest sector updates. Given that new equipment is usually somewhat complex, suppliers provide customized training to operators taught by professionals.

“The supplier who knows us, who has worked with us for years, that is always aware of our operation and suggests new technologies is a partner to us, and that relationship is a win-win,” says Chamorro.

Progressive Projections Pantaleon Group (where Ingenio Monte Rosa is a subsidiary) seeks to develop its operations both organically and through acquisitions. Chamorro says, “We want to produce more sugar, bring the sugar mill to grind 18 thousand metric tons and be the largest generator of clean energy.”

In the future, they hope to expand their sustainable businesses as part of their corporate responsibility and climate change in the Nicaraguan industry.

Among their new business is the construction of a distillery with a capacity of 300 thousand liters, investments in their delivery network and plans to increase their energy generation from 30 to 50 megawatts per hour over the next three years.

“We continue to focus on improving efficiency, productivity and reducing our costs to be more competitive and have continuous long-term development,” says Bernardo Chamorro, CEO of Ingenio Monte Rosa.

Machinery

Sugar mill

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http://www.pdelaire.com/ | Informacion@pdelaire.com.ni http://www.facebook.com/Productos-del-Aire-de-Nicaragua-SA

Bernardo Chamorro, CEO of Ingenio Monte Rosa 138

August 2014

Energy

“We are a selfsufficient and innovative company, which is a differentiator and a competitive advantage because it enables us to utilize our assets”

Company Information in d u s t r y

Sugar production and refining h ea d q u a r t e r s

Chinandega, Nicaragua founded

1998 (acquisition) e m p l o y ee s

6,000 k e y pe o p l e

Bernardo Chamorro (CEO of Ingenio Monte Rosa), Gilda Martinez (Communications Coordinator), Milvia Amador (Executive Assistant) services

Raw sugar, sulfite sugar, molasses and cogeneration we b pa g e

www.pantaleon.com

– Bernardo Chamorro, CEO of Ingenio Monte Rosa

www.facebook.com/PantaleonIngenioMonteRosaSa twitter.com/search?q=Ingenio%20Monte%20Rosa&src=typdt www.linkedin.com/company/pantaleon-sugar-holdings www.facebook.com/pages/Corporación-Maresa/378166975598528

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