August 1998 Filtration Industry Analyst

BAKER HUGHES AND WESTERN

ATLAS COMPLETE MERGER

The merger of Baker Hughes and Western At las has been comple ted fo l lowing approval by the shareholders of both companies.

The transaction is valued at approximately US$4.8 bil- lion, including the assumption of US$1.3 billion in debt. The combined company's revenues for the 12 months ended 30 June 1998 were approximately US$6.4 billion.

Max L Lukens, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes, said that in bringing Baker Hughes and Western Atlas together, they have combined leadership in recovery and in discovery. He said the new company would build on its strong technology positions to create integrated systems to enhance the value of the reser- voir. He added that Baker Hughes was strategically ori- ented in what they believe are the fastest growing segments in the industry with the highest return potential.

John Russell, former CEO and president of Western Atlas, and now president of Baker Hughes, said that the combina- tion of reservoir-knowledge, with recovery capabilities in dri l l ing, complet ion and workover, positions the new company for growth.

Baker Hughes ' oilfield divisions will now be organ- ised into two operational groups that will be focused on product and service technolo- gy leadership, and systems development. One group, com- posed of Western Geophysical, Baker Atlas and Inteq will report to Thomas R Bates Jr, senior vice president. The sec- ond group, reporting to Andrew J Szescila, senior vice president, will include Baker Oil Tools, Baker Petrolite, Hughes Christensen, and Centrilift. All other divisions will report directly to Lukens.

WEIR SUBSIDIARY EASES THE STRAIN

A Mather & Platt micro- strainer has been supplied to West of Scot land Water 's Swinstie wastewater scheme near Wishaw.

The delivery by the Weir Group subsidiary, was part of an upgrade of an existing 34.5 million litres/day treatment works, in an environmentally sensitive area with a sensitive receiving stream. It was criti- cal that system security could be provided without incurring a major impact on the works hydraulic gradient. The microstrainer had a maximum head requirement of 50cm, which can normally be accom- modated without incurring additional pumping for the scheme. The microstrainer ensured system security by providing an absolute screen- ing guarantee to 20 micron with finer particles removed by the filter mat.

US FILTER'S MEXICAN WAVE

P e m e x , the s t a t e - o w n e d Mexican oil company, has awarded US Filter a contract to provide one of the largest mobile wastewater reuse sys- tems in the world.

US Filter's Mexico office will install 18 mobile trailer units in a Pemex refinery locat- ed in Salamanca, Mexico, by the end of August. The system consists of multimedia filters, activated carbon filters, two- pass reverse osmosis, and chemical injection feed sys- tems. The total flow rate of the mobile system is 1200 gallons per minute.

The two pass, reverse osmosis system will treat refin- ery wastewater with a 70 per cent recovery rate, substantial- ly reducing Pemex's current operating costs. Additionally, wastewater from other processes in the refinery will be recycled, treated and reused.

PEOPLE • David C h a m b e r s OBE

has retired as international operations director of BTR Environmental, after 38 years of dis t inguished service. Working from Leicester, UK, Chambers played a key part in ensur- ing the smooth integration of the DCE brand within BTR Environmental. He was also the leader of the British delegation to the European CEN committee on harmful emissions from machinery.

• Peerless Mfg Co, a manu- facturer of separators and filters used in the petrole- um, natural gas, petro- chemical and electric utili- ty industries and of environmental protection equipment, has named Paul W Willey as chief financial officer, secre- tary/treasurer of the com- pany. Willey has been serving as financial con- sultant to Peerless Mfg Co since March 1998.

• Five people have been appointed to key executive positions within lonics Incorporated. Edward J Cichon has been hired as vice president in charge of Ionics' recently formed Equipment Business Group, which incorporates three divisions currently involved in industrial and municipal water and waste- water treatment. Cichon joins Ionics after 18 years with Metcalf & Eddy where he most recently served as senior vice presi- dent. Christian Cuillery has joined lonics as vice president in charge of Ionics' European business activities, including exist- ing operations in France, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and Italy. Previously Cuillery managed opera- tions in France for Digital

Equipment Corporation and Comdisco. Robert J Halliday has been named head of Ionics ' new Consumer Water Group consisting of the Aqua Cool ® Pure Bottled Water business and the Home Water Systems business. Halliday has been a senior corporate officer at Ionics for the last seven years. For the past two years he has also been in charge of the company's bottled water business. P Robert Reed has joined Ionics ' Instruments Business Group as chief operating officer of Ionics Sievers. Reed recently left Hewlett Packard after a 21-year career which included responsibilities as general manager of the Automated Chemical Systems busi- ness and general manager of the Consumables busi- ness. In addition, Arthur Sebastiano has been hired as chief information officer for the corporation. Sebastiano was previously director of Information Systems and Operations for Xyplex Networks. Osmonics has announced the promotion of Kenton Toomey to executive vice president Operations, with overall responsibility for operations, including man- ufacturing and information technology. All Osmonics' manufacturing operations general managers will now report to Toomey. Dean Spatz, Osmonics' chair- man and CEO, described Toomey as "a seasoned operations executive" who will help Osmonics inte- grate its manufacturing and support functions. Spatz added that Toomey was a visionary leader who will tap the creativity of Osmonics people.

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