K-Tron to Acquire Chinese Machinery Company

Pitman, NJ -- K-Tron International, Inc. today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of Wuxi Chenghao Machinery Co., Ltd. (“Wuxi Chenghao”). Wuxi Chenghao is a privately held company and is one of the leading feeder and ancillary equipment manufacturers for the plastics compounding and injection industries in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”).

The total cost of the transaction over a five-year period, including the purchase price and payments under related employment and other arrangements with Wuxi Chenghao’s current owner, could be as much as approximately $3.5 million. The acquisition is expected to close early in 2007 and is subject to various closing conditions, including certain required governmental approvals in the PRC.

Wuxi Chenghao is located in Luoshe Key Open Industrial Park, Wuxi City, in the Huishan district of Jiangsu province, approximately 60 miles west of Shanghai. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services volumetric and gravimetric single and twin screw feeders and controls, vibratory trays, pelletizers and pneumatic screen changers for use in plastics compounding and injection molding processes.

Wuxi Chenghao, with approximately 60 employees, was founded in 2002 and has established a leading position in the domestic PRC market for industrial feeders. K-Tron expects to obtain approval to form a Wholly-Foreign Owned Entity (“WFOE”) under PRC laws which will purchase certain assets from Wuxi Chenghao and serve as the entity to conduct the business following the closing.

Wuxi Chenghao’s top management is expected to join the WFOE following the completion of the transaction, including the current owner and General Manager, Mr. Wang Hongliang. Kevin Bowen, Senior Vice President of K-Tron responsible for its process equipment business line, will serve as Chairman of the Board of the WFOE and will have operating responsibility for this venture.

Commenting on the acquisition, K-Tron Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Edward B. Cloues, II said, “The acquisition of Wuxi Chenghao will be a major step forward in K-Tron’s strategic plan to expand our global leadership position in feeding and pneumatic conveying equipment for difficult-to-handle materials. K-Tron has served the upper-tier PRC market for many years by selling this equipment primarily to multinational end users through resellers in Europe and the United States, through independent representatives in the PRC and by providing support through our Representative Office in Shanghai which we established in 1996. The domestic PRC market for plastics processing equipment is growing at double-digit rates, and this acquisition will enable us to address the domestic customer base with products designed and manufactured in the PRC and sold in local currency.”

Added Kevin Bowen, “This is an exciting expansion of K-Tron’s process equipment business line. The PRC has developed into a leading area for base-resin manufacturing and plastics compounding, which are core markets for our feeders and pneumatic conveying equipment. This transaction will significantly increase our presence in the PRC and allow us to take advantage of domestic manufacturing and labor efficiencies. And with Mr. Wang, his management team and the employees of Wuxi Chenghao continuing to operate the business, we will immediately benefit from established and credible customer relationships and supply chain processes. We already have a manager from our U.S. operations working with Wuxi Chenghao’s management on site to assure a smooth transition once the new WFOE becomes operational.”

K-Tron International, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, produce, market and service material handling equipment and systems for a wide variety of industrial markets. The Company has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and its equipment is sold throughout the world.

Source: http://www.ktron.com/

Value Priced Feeder/Spreader from Hapman

Kalamazoo, MI -- To satisfy a broad array of general spreading and seasoning applications, the Hapman PosiPortion™ Feeder can now be equipped with specially designed, elongated distribution nozzles. this feature is excellent for extending into a coating drum, distributing product across a moving belt or keeping a long surge hopper evenly filled.

Equipment with similar performance characters can sell for up to 4 times the price. Contact Hapman for more information on how the PosiPortion spreader solution can provide even distribution without busting your budget.

Hapman located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is one of the world's foremost providers of powder and bulk material handling conveyors and equipment. For over 50 years, Hapman has been designing and manufacturing the highest in quality and leading edge technology from its 70,000 sq/ft. manufacturing facility. Hapman products are found in practically every industry worldwide, and is relied upon for improving efficiency, maximizing production and reducing labor costs.

For additional information contact,
Mr. Greg Patterson
Hapman
6002 East Kilgore Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49003
Telephone: 269.343.1675 or 800.427.6260
Email: sales@hapman.com
Web site: http://www.hapman.com/

CEMA : Booked Orders Down 2% in August

NAPLES, FL. -- The Conveyor Equipment Manufacturers Association reported that its August 2006 Booked Orders Index was 120 down 13 points or a decrease of 10% from July 2006's Index of 133 (1990=100). The August 2006 Index represents a decrease of 2% from the August 2005 Index of 122.

August Booked Orders Indexes were 187 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 96 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Booked Orders was 141 in August. Index in August represents no change from July 2006's Twelve-Month Index of 141.

The CEMA Billed Sales (shipments) Index was 148 in August up 12 points or an increase of 9% from the July Index of 136. The August 2006 Index represents a decrease of 6% from the August 2005 Index of 157.

August Billed Sales Indexes were 188 for Bulk Handling Equipment* and 148 for Unit Handling Equipment*(1990=100).

The Twelve-Month Index for Billed Sales was 143 in August. Index in August is down 1 point or 1% from July 2006's Twelve-Month Index of 144.

* Since Bulk Handling Systems booked and billed sales are reported quarterly, they are averaged back to the two preceding months to enable a running monthly index.

Source: http://www.cemanet.org/

Congrav OP5 : Touch Screen Operator Interface

Mississauga, ONT -- New from Brabender Technologie Inc., OP5 is part of the field proven SCC (Single Cable Connection) industrial field bus system.

Up to 16 weigh feeders (loss in weight, weigh belt, Coriolis bulk solids flowmeter etc.) are connected together and to the operator interface by just one cable. Feeder mounted motor drive and control (NEMA 4 /12 enclosures) result in greatly reduced wiring to the very compact control enclosure (OP5).

Operation from the 6.5 inch color display is extremely easy. Self explaining touch areas are clearly arranged on the touch screen. Based on the operating system Microsoft® Windows®, the display allows intuitive operation and observation of the feeding process. Operator training time and risk of adjustment error are substantially reduced.

Congrav OP5 can be located close to the feeders, communication to a PLC / host is provided via Ethernet (open modbus TCP protocol) and several other protocols. A card addition provides increased digital / analog I/O.

A service interface is included to connect to a PC, Laptop or modem for troubleshooting.

Brabender Technologie, Inc. Manufactures feeding equipment for small to medium capacity, high precision, continuous or batch weigh feeding applications.

For more information contact:
Ms. Glenda Ogley
Brabender Technologie Inc.
Telephone: 888-284-4574 x 1311
Fax: 905-670-2557

I

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The New Martin "Pit Viper" Belt Cleaner
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Ross Expands Wuxi China Factory Charles Ross & Son Company today announced the completion of its manufacturing plant expansion in Wuxi, China.

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Process Engineer - Milpitas, CA

Description: NanoGram Corporation has an opening for a Process Engineer within the Equipment Engineering group. The successful candidate will be responsible for the process development and improvements for pilot and production scale version of our proprietary NanoParticle Manufacturing and Laser Reactive Deposition equipment.

Job duties include design and/or evaluation and optimization of aerosol, vapor, and gas delivery systems and particle transport filtration and collection systems for pilot and production scale; specification and procurement of equipment; and integration of the chemical delivery system into the total system. Additional duties include complete documentation for chemical delivery equipment, hands-on assembly of chemical delivery system as needed, customer site inspections, support for equipment start-up, debug, and qualification.

You will work with NanoGram's process development team to develop high efficiency and high throughput chemical delivery, reaction, and particle collection systems and prepare and update equipment operation and maintenance procedures. As our projects move forward and the team grows, accountabilities will be expanded to include on-line process monitoring and control, and continuous improvement support to improve production rates and equipment uptime.

Essential requirements:
* Experience with design of chemical delivery or particle transport and filtration systems.
* Experience with the operation of pilot and large scale chemical process equipment.
* Work experience within a high volume chemical manufacturing plant.
* Solid understanding of chemical processes and relevant parameters.
* Ability to write operational and maintenance procedures.
* Ability to work with teams, good communication skills.
* B.S. Degree in a Chemical Engineering plus a minimum of 7 years of industrial experience.
* Willing to travel domestically and internationally.

Desired characteristics:
- Strong computer skills, with proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel and/or MS Access.
- Good trouble shooting skills.

Company Information: NanoGram Corporation, founded in 1996, is a world leading developer and licensor of technology enabling the manufacture of unique nanoscale compositions for application in optical, electronic, and energy devices and products. In its development laboratories and pilot plants, the company has developed extensive intellectual property that is expanding the boundaries of nanomaterials technologies.

The results of this work are enabling the development and manufacturing of new generations of materials, devices, components and applications. Technology developed at NanoGram is in use today at several market-focused operating companies. Through licensing, joint ventures and co-development partnerships, NanoGram delivers highly innovative technology solutions to strategic partnerships, collaborators, affiliates and customers.

Job Code/Requisition #: 534-06-06

Contact: jobs@nanogram.com

Stephanie Stewart
165 Topaz Street
Milpitas, California 95035
Telephone: +1 626.278.2231
Fax: +1 408 262 2690

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This weeks photo is of value priced feeder-spreader from Hapman. The PosiPortion Feeder can now be equipped with specially designed, elongated distribution nozzles.  This feature is excellent for extending into a coating drum, distributing product across a moving belt or keeping a long surge hopper evenly filled.

Photo courtesy of Hapman.

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