Celanese Corp. said this morning it will spend $150 million to convert the boilers that power its Giles County factory from coal to natural gas.

Reporter Jeff Sturgeon has more details here.

Americast, Inc. and Hanson Pipe & Precast LLC are combining to become Concrete Pipe & Precast, LLC.  Together, they will manufacture, market and sell concrete pipe and precast products to the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States regions. The company plans to have manufacturing sites in Roanoke and Salem among other places in the  southeast U.S . It is anticipated that CP&P will begin operations Aug. 1.

Here is the press release from Americast.

RICHMOND, Va., July 20, 2012 – Americast, Inc. and Hanson Pipe & Precast LLC, announced today they have signed an agreement to form a new joint venture company to be known as Concrete Pipe & Precast, LLC (CP&P). The new company will consist of selected Americast and Hanson Pipe & Precast LLC operations and will manufacture, market, and sell a complete line of concrete pipe and precast products in much of the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. CP&P will have manufacturing facilities in Ashland, Chesapeake, Hanover, Harrisonburg, Roanoke and Salem, Virginia; Martinsburg, West Virginia; Jessup, Maryland; Dunn and Oakboro, North Carolina; Barnwell, Charleston and Summerville, South Carolina; and Rincon, Georgia. Americast and Hanson Pipe & Precast LLC will have equal interests in the venture.

“The construction industry has been severely impacted by the adverse economic conditions over the last five years. I wholeheartedly believe that this partnership between two best-in-class precast and pipe manufacturers will enable us to build a more efficient, sustainable company that is positioned to succeed in a dynamic marketplace. The industry is changing and we are excited to change with it,” said Bill Tichacek, President of Americast.

“This joint venture in these selected markets will allow our combined operations to remain competitive and strong in today’s evolving marketplace while ensuring our customers and the communities they service receive the quality concrete products they’ve come to depend on,” explained Bob Christensen, Senior Vice President of Hanson Pipe & Precast. The closing of the transactions to form the joint venture is subject to conditions typical of a transaction of this nature. The parties anticipate that the closing will occur and that Concrete Pipe & Precast, LLC will begin operations on August 1, 2012.

About Americast
Americast, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eagle Corporation, a diversified building products company headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is a leading supplier of precast concrete solutions in the mid-Atlantic region. The company specializes in the design and manufacturing of a complete line of concrete pipe and precast products for commercial and residential applications. Concrete precast structures include reinforced pipe, manhole components, box culverts, fittings and drainage structures. Americast is committed to providing quality solutions for our customers’ pipe and precast needs.

http://www.americastusa.com

About Hanson Pipe & Precast
Hanson Pipe & Precast is the largest manufacturer of concrete pipe and precast products in North America. With more than 3,500 employees, the company has a network of manufacturing facilities and delivery capabilities that span the continent. Hanson Pipe & Precast products are used in residential and commercial applications that support our infrastructure’s needs, including stormwater drainage and water transportation. For more information, visit hansonpipeandprecast.com.

Hanson Pipe and Precast, LLC and its affiliates are part of Lehigh Hanson, Inc. Lehigh Hanson is a member of the HeidelbergCement Group, the global leader in aggregates with leading positions in cement, concrete and heavy building materials. The company employs approximately 52,000 people in more than 40 countries.

A Virginia Manufacturers Association Certified Assessment Center opened its fifth center at Skyline College in Roanoke. VMA Certified Assessment Centers are being established at all ECPI University locations in Virginia. The centers will make access easier to advance technology industry credentials from the association’s new workforce development division, the Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills. The new center opened today.

Here is the press release from Skyline College.

Roanoke, VA – The 5th Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) Certified Assessment Center is opening today at ECPI University’s Skyline College location in Roanoke. ECPI and VMA are establishing VMA Certified Assessment Centers at all ECPI University locations across the Commonwealth to increase accessibility to advanced technology industry credentials produced by the association’s new workforce development division, the Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills (VCATS). Industry assessments offered will initially include the VCATS Level 1 Manufacturing Technician, VCATS Manufacturing Specialist and Industrial Energy Auditor credentials. The Skyline College dedication ceremony was held this morning at 10:30 a.m. Read more »

FAA Inspectors Present Jay Muscatello, General Manager at Moog Components Group’s Blacksburg, VA, Operations with Repair Station Certificate. (Left to right: Dale Herner, Jay Muscatello, Manuel Carvalho)

Moog Components Group in Blacksburg has been awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s Repair Station Certificate. The certificate shows that their faculty for aircraft components is an FAA approved repair station. Moog is a worldwide manufacturer of precision control components and systems.

Here is the press release from Moog.

Blacksburg, VA, USA – Moog Components Group, a division of Moog Inc., announces it has been awarded the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) certificate as an approved repair station at its Blacksburg, Virginia, facility for aircraft components. This allows Moog to expand services to its customers. In addition to providing new slip ring models to meet customer’s specifications, Moog can now offer slip ring repair for the AW139, AW189, EH101, AW101, AW609 and S-92.

Moog is building on its proven manufacturing methods to ensure compliance for the evaluation, testing and repair of returned products. Detailed documents have been completed for this process. Inspection equipment is in place and trained technicians are available to monitor compliance with all regulatory requirements.

“This is just another step in Moog’s plan to continuously improve support to our customers,” adds Jay Muscatello, General Manager of Moog Components Group’s Blacksburg Operations. “We are pleased to add the certified repair capability for our commercial aviation customers as we continue to expand in this important market.” Moog also has several other facilities that are certified on specific product repairs.

Moog designs and manufactures a wide range of slip ring products that are used in aerospace applications to transfer power and data from a stationary to a rotating structure. Slip rings are used in electromechanical systems that require unrestrained, intermittent or continuous rotation. For demanding environments, as well as high speed data requirements, a fiber optic solution is available.

About Moog
Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog’s high performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, wind energy, marine and medical equipment.
Moog Components Group, a division of Moog Inc., provides motion and fiber optic products for industrial, medical, marine, aerospace and defense applications, including slip rings, motors, actuators, fiber optic components and integrated rotary solutions.

Additional information about the Moog Components Group’s slip rings can be found at www.moog.com/components

Connie Loughhead, President of Heatex America accepting the Virginia Vanguard for Top Manufacturer from Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. (picture by Robert Loughhead)

Heatex America was recognized at the annual Virginia’s FANTASTIC 50 Awards Banquet last month. They are one of five companies to receive the Virginia Vanguard award for top manufacturer. The FANTASTIC 50 recognizes leading and growing businesses in Virginia. Heatex, located in Rockbridge County, is an internal climate control manufacturer.

Here is a press release from Heatex America.

Richmond, VA—The Virginia Chamber announced the names of fifty of the fastest growing Virginia companies at the seventeenth annual Virginia’s FANTASTIC 50 Awards Banquet on April 26 at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly. Nearly 400 attendees at the ceremony saluted the winners for their entrepreneurial success and contribution to Virginia’s economy.

A highlight of the awards banquet was Heatex America receiving the Virginia Vanguard for Top Manufacturer.

The evening’s keynote speaker, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, gave an inspirational address recognizing the pivotal role of small businesses and entrepreneurs in growing Virginia’s economy. “Each of these companies has contributed significantly to the tremendous economic growth we have seen in Virginia over the past two years. Small businesses are responsible for most of the 119,800 net new jobs that we have created. It is important that we recognize these businesses for the contribution they have made to Virginia’s economy, and I applaud the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for doing so.”

Connie Loughhead, President of Heatex America accepted the Vanguard award and stated, “ It has been an exciting few years for Heatex, what started out as a one person operation in 2004 has now grown into a multi – million dollar operation with 40,000 sqft of manufacturing in Virginia and sales for North, Central, and Latin America.

The Heatex team is world class; I’m surrounded by highly motivated and dedicated employees. I have also been fortunate to establish my business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Heatex has had tremendous support from the county representatives of Rockbridge County and support at the state level from the Workforce Investment program.”

“Heatex’ innovative products and leadership for the energy recovery industry aligns with Governor McDonnell’s initiative for the Commonwealth of Virginia to be the “Energy Capital of the East Coast”; as energy recovery and new sources of energy are being explored and pushed across the Americas by consumer demand, state and federal legislation Heatex America has become an invaluable partner to those companies that are leading the way into our energy future.”

About the Awards—Virginia’s FANTASTIC 50 award program is a signature event of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. The FANTASTIC 50 awards recognize leading businesses across the Commonwealth in all types of industries, and are the only statewide awards of this type in Virginia. Nominations for the 2012 FANTASTIC 50 were sought last fall from local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and through the sponsors’ networks; companies may also nominate themselves.

To be eligible, a company must be privately held with headquarters in Virginia, show sales between $200,000 and $100 million, and demonstrate positive revenue growth and positive net income in its most recent fiscal year over the previous year. Companies are judged on four-year sales revenue history.

INFORMATION ABOUT HEATEX
Heatex America is a subsidiary of Heatex AB Sweden, a leading innovator within the air-to-air heat exchanger industry. With global manufacturing facilities located in Sweden, Czech Republic, China, and the United States, their knowledge of air-to-air heat exchangers enables sophisticated development, design, and manufacturing solutions for improving internal climate control within a diverse range of applications around the world. Heatex products are built on automated production lines, ensuring consistency, high quality together with short lead times, while saving costs.

Among the company’s recent innovations has been the development of a cooling solution for renewable energy applications.

Saied Taheri

With $ 80,000  in funds from the National Science Foundation, Virginia Tech is creating a tire research center  in Danville. The center will be focused on developing new tire materials, testing and marketing as well as testing and marketing the new tires. Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Saied Taheri will be the director of the facility.

Here is a press release from Virginia Tech.

BLACKSBURG, Va., March 22, 2012 – Virginia Tech is establishing a new tire research center with the funding from the National Science Foundation. The Center for Tire Research will focus on developing new tire materials, in addition to manufacturing, modeling and simulation, and testing of tires.

The center will be based at Virginia Tech’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, Va., and will be directed by Saied Taheri, associate professor of mechanical engineering within Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. With an initial funding of $80,000 from the National Science Foundation’s Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program, Taheri says the research center will be a combined force of academic researchers and auto and tire industry leaders. Read more »

Local leader in recycling systems received the ISO 9001 certification by the International Organization of Standardization. Forest-based Sterling Blower Company achieved certification for consistency, compliance with process standards and effective business management systems.

Here is the press release from McBratney Marketing.          Read more »

Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co. has purchased 150,000 seedlings from the Virginia Department of Forestry and donated the seedlings for planting projects across the state.

See below for the press release from the Virginia Department of Forestry. Read more »

The U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology will invest $212,800 in Genedge Alliance, a statewide manufacturing support program based at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville.

Here’s more on the announcement from the offices of Sens. Jim Webb and Mark Warner:

Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will invest $212,800 in GENEDGE ALLIANCE, a statewide manufacturing support program based at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, Virginia.  Both Senators have consistently supported federal funding in Congress for the program, which supports industrial and manufacturing jobs by helping private businesses across the Commonwealth compete and succeed.

“I have been a big supporter of this concept, where high-quality advisors help small and mid-sized companies compete nationally,” said Senator Webb.  “The GENEDGE ALLIANCE manufacturing program is a strong example of a public-private partnership that will strengthen Virginia communities and invigorate local economies.” Read more »

State and local officials this afternoon announced an expansion at Commonwealth Laminating & Coating. The company will be hiring 40 new employees over the next two to three years in a move assisted by state economic development grants. Read about it here.