TransCanada Awarded Contract to Build $550 Million Natural Gas Pipeline in Mexico TransCanada Corp., Calgary, Alberta, has been selected to build, own, and operate the Tula – Villa de Reyes pipeline in Mexico. The construction is supported by a 25-year natural gas transportation service contract for 886 million ft3/day with the Comisión Federal de Electricidad, Mexico’s stateowned power company. The company expects to invest approximately $550 million in the 36-in.-diameter, 261-mile pipeline and anticipates an in-service date of early 2018. It will begin in Tula in the state of Hidalgo, and end in Villa de Reyes, in the state of San Luis Potosí, transporting natural gas to power generation facilities in the country’s central region. In addition, the project will interconnect with TransCanada’s Tamazunchale and Tuxpan – Tula pipelines, as well as other transporters in the region. Comau Robotics Achieves Continued DoubleDigit Growth Comau, Turin, Italy, is continuing its growth in the robotics sector. For the third consecutive year, the manufacturer of flexible, automatic systems has recorded a double-digit increase in articulated robot sales. This increase in 2015 was equally distributed within the automotive and general industry. The growth, in addition to China, was concentrated in eastern Europe and the NAFTA region. In the APAC region, the company recorded an increase in sales as well, partly due to the establishment of production facilities and an innovation center in China. Manufacturing Technology Orders Revealed The U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders report for February 2016, generated from data compiled by The Association For Manufacturing Technology, McLean, Va., showed orders were down 5.1% vs. the previous month, and also down 12.8% vs. the same month last year. Orders for capital equipment continue to fall as the overall U.S. manufacturing industry undergoes the effects of a strong dollar and weak demand from international markets. While Europe, Japan, and the United States are seeing economic expansion, China continues to struggle with emerging global economies. However, increasing commodity prices and other positive economic indicators could point to a more favorable climate for some U.S. manufacturing sectors. Lincoln Electric, GM, and Alcoa Release First Quarter 2016 Results Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, has reported a first quarter 2016 net income of $53.6 million. This compares with a net income of $68.4 million in the comparable 2015 period. In addition, first quarter 2016 sales decreased 16.3% to $550.7 million. An 11.4% benefit from price and a 1.6% increase from acquisitions was offset by a 15% decline from unfavorable foreign exchange translation and 14.2% lower volumes. Excluding Venezuela, pricing and foreign exchange had 1 and 2.2% unfavorable impacts, respectively, on sales in the quarter. General Motors Co., Detroit, Mich., recently announced its first-quarter net income to common stockholders of $2 billion compared to $0.9 billion a year ago. Earnings per share diluted-adjusted for special items was a first-quarter record at $1.26, up 47% vs. the first quarter of 2015. The company set first-quarter records for earnings and margin, with earnings before interest/tax adjusted to $2.7 billion. Alcoa, New York, N.Y., reported solid first quarter 2016 performance. Arconic segments reported year-over-year profit growth, and the Upstream segments, Alumina and Primary Metals, remained profitable despite low pricing. The lightweight metals company achieved a first quarter 2016 net income of $16 million. Excluding the impact of special items, first quarter 2016 net income was $108 million. Mercer Abrasives® Evolves Into Mercer Industries™ In response to a shift in corporate strategy and product expansion over the last years, Mercer Abrasives, Ronkonkoma, N.Y., a product provider for industry professionals that has been in existence for more than 50 years, has been renamed Mercer Industries. A new website has also been launched at mercerindustries.com. “While the name has changed, our purpose and commitment remain the same,” added Jim Wallick, president. Solar Atmospheres of California Expands Solar Atmospheres of California, Inc., is expanding the company’s Fontana facility, located 40 miles east of Los Angeles. The $5-million investment is part of a long-term corporate strategy to increase its west coast development and commercial capacity to meet customer demands. This expansion will add an additional 25,000 sq ft to the current 25,000-sq-ft facility. Multiple vacuum furnaces manufactured by its sister company, Solar Manufacturing, Inc., Souderton, Pa., will also be introduced. Construction is expected to be fully operational by the end of the year. BUSINESS BRIEFS 20 WELDING JOURNAL / JUNE 2016 WJ For the third consecutive year, a positive growth trend continues for Comau, an Italian manufacturer. Pictured is a group shot of the company’s robots on display.
Welding Journal | June 2016
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