Business Buzz
¦ Palmer Johnson Power Systems announced new developments in their partnership with ZF Services North America. The off-highway division of ZF Services North America has expanded Palmer Johnson’s authorized territory to include Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Combined with the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest territory awarded to Palmer Johnson in 2005, Palmer Johnson is now an authorized ZF distributor and service center for 18 states in the U.S.
¦ proveo GmbH has changed its name and will now conduct business under the name of Zebra Enterprise Solutions GmbH. Zebra Technologies Corporation acquired proveo in July 2007 to be a part of a division, which also includes Navis, WhereNet and Multispectral Solutions. Over the past two years, these four companies have been integrated into one business, to serve customers throughout the world as Zebra Enterprise Solutions.
¦ ASIG® announced that its Denver International Airport fuel facility operation has achieved Gold Leader status under the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Environmental Leadership Program. It is a three-tiered program with Gold being the highest level. For an organization to achieve Gold, they must demonstrate continual environmental improvement with goals that are measurable and beyond compliance; work towards sustainability; have a fully functional environmental management system and a clean compliance record three years prior to applying to the program. Last year ASIG was recognized as a Bronze Achiever.
¦ Palmer Johnson Power Systems’ Phoenix location has officially completed its move that began last October from a facility in Mesa to a larger 8,000 sq. ft. building near Sky Harbor International Airport.
¦ Velcon Filters LLC announced the Notice of Acceptance of US Trademark for “FDPM” (Flow Differential Pressure Module), thus making “FDPM” a registered trademark of Velcon Filters LLC. FDPM® is a computerized system designed to calculate the corrected differential pressure (DP) (corrected for flow and change-out DP) of a fuel filter vessel and determine if the filtering media inside has surpassed its useful life. The FPDM® system was developed mainly for use in the jet fuel and aviation industry.
Partnerships/Acquisitions/Contracts
¦ Unitron LP announced that it has entered into a worldwide distribution agreement with Aviall Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, for the sale of its all-electric “green” 28 VDC and 400 Hz mobile and towable ground power units into the ground support equipment market and into the completion center market with Unitron’s onboard solid state frequency converters.
¦ Cavotec MSL has recently signed agreements to supply ground support equipment to several commercial and military airports around the world. The total amount of these orders comes to approximately EUR 4.1 million.Cavotec MSL is to supply a range of advanced ground support systems for applications in Qatar, at New Doha International Airport (NDIA), and in the United States, including Las Vegas airport’s new international terminal and the US Air Force’s Hill air base in the state of Utah.
¦ Velcon Filters LLC, a portfolio company of The Sterling Group L.P., announced that it has completed the acquisition of Chemflo, a division of Process Filtration LLC. Chemflo, headquartered in Houston, Texas, specializes in the manufacturing of high-capacity filters and coalescers for petrochemical producers, refineries, pipeline companies, natural gas processors, the food and beverage industry and many other process industries.
¦ Lift-A-Loft Corporation announced that it has begun deliveries of its new Mobile Man Lift to the Naval Air Warfare Center in Lakehurst, N.J., for U.S. Marine Corps. Lift-A-Loft has completed development of a new product designed specifically to support maintenance operations on the V-22 Osprey manufactured by Bell Boeing. The Mobile Man Lift (MML) was developed to be a lightweight, easily deployable scissors lift that could access many points on the V-22. It was developed to operate in both land-based or ship based environments.
¦ Worldwide Flight Services commenced new full ground handling contracts at Paris Orly at the beginning of November for Royal Air Maroc, Air Caraïbes, Air Mali, Air Burkina and Mauritania Airways.
¦ Global Ground Support LLC, a subsidiary of Air T Inc., announced that it has signed agreements with a company based in Millesimo, Italy, Fresia S.p.A., to manufacture and distribute Fresia snow removal equipment in the United States. Fresia was established in 1923 and is a worldwide provider of snow removal equipment, heavy duty trucks and other industrial vehicles.
¦ The Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as represented by the Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), has selected Cavotec to supply and integrate a range of environmentally friendly ground service equipment for remote aircraft aprons at Bahrain International Airport, in a deal worth approximately EUR 30 million. With 18 of Cavotec’s pre-conditioned air (PCAir) systems forming the centerpiece of the project, Cavotec will also deliver and install pop-up units, transformer sub-stations, 400Hz power supply systems, a vacuum evacuation system, a blue water supply system and a potable water supply system. The installation work is due for completion in February 2011 with a subsequent operation and maintenance period for one year.
¦ JBT Corporation announced that its JBT AeroTech business was awarded a $7.3 million contract by Turner Construction Company, the general contractor for San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) Terminal 2 renovation and expansion project. The contract includes the supply of 14 new Jetway passenger boarding bridges and preconditioned air units to be installed at gates in Terminal 2.
¦ Swissport International has been awarded a ground handling license for Munich Airport. Swissport and its local joint-venture partner Losch Airport Service won the corresponding tender process. The seven-year license will enable Swissport/Losch to provide ramp (apron) services at the airport. The operations have been scheduled to commence March 1, 2010.
¦ Zebra Enterprise Solutions GmbH announced the implementation of the ZES Airport Visualiser at GlobeGround Berlin, the largest ground handling service provider at Berlin’s airports Schönefeld and Tegel. In a first step of the project, GlobeGround Berlin has commissioned ZES to equip 21 ground power units at Schönefeld and Tegel with the ZES hardware device, the Infoman, that transmits real-time data on the GSE’s present position and key data on the vehicle, e.g., its operational status.
¦ Airport Terminal Services Canadian Company announced continued growth at Vancouver International Airport and Edmonton International Airport. Continental Airlines awarded ATS a full ground handling agreement in YEG, effective Nov. 1, when they resumed service to the Alberta capital’s international gateway after a three-year absence. Lufthansa awarded ATS an agreement at YVR to provide passenger support services, which also became effective on Nov. 1, 2009.
¦ In Munich in October, TLD and IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) sealed their exclusive risk sharing MOA for the development and manufacturing of the TaxiBot Tractors by signing their formal document. TaxiBot is a dispatch tow tractor concept developed and patented by IAI.
¦ Swissport International has been appointed by Qantas Freight to provide cargo ground handling services at London Heathrow Airport. Operations started in mid-September.
¦ Aviance and Vestergaard executed a frame agreement for delivery of specialized GSE equipment. The frame agreement will stretch over a period of three years and cover Vestergaard’s “Elephant” aircraft deicers as well as toilet and water service trucks. Under the agreement, Aviance member companies can consolidate their GSE purchases and utilize a single, common set of terms and conditions and the deal effectively places Vestergaard on Aviance’s Preferred Vendor’s List.
¦ Swissport International and its local venture partner Inter Airport Services, obtained the license to launch ground handling business activities in Costa Rica. The long-term agreement covers the two international airports, Juan Santa Maria in San Jose and Daniel Oduber in Liberia, and commenced Nov. 1, 2009.
¦ Safe Drain Inc. has announced that McGuire AFB, NJ will be installing 27 Safe Drain storm drain inserts on its C-17 parking ramp area. The Safe Drains will be utilized primarily for recovery of deicing fluid in order to meet current and pending EPA requirements. In addition, the Safe Drains will serve as an SPCC compliance device for McGuire in order to contain potential fuel spills in the ramp area.
¦ Airport Terminal Services Canadian Company announced that on Nov. 1, 2009, it commenced full ground handling services on behalf of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines at Toronto L.B. Pearson International Airport.
¦ North American Company SRS Tactical has just signed a sole distribution agreement to supply a Norwegian-manufactured range of wireless hearing protection equipment, 121-CONNECT. The product line includes the 121-GROUND CREW, which has been especially produced for the aviation ground support industry.
¦ Swissport’s Cargo unit USA announced the renewal of its agreement with United Airlines for 3 airports: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago-O’Hare. Swissport Cargo Services has handled United Airlines in these locations since 2003 and now extends this relationship until 2012.
People in the News
¦ Garsite announced its newest associate, Chris Dukes, who is positioned as the VP of international sales.
¦ Donaldson Company announced the appointment of Todd Smith as general manager and Mike Trevino as director of sales for Western Filter. Western Filter was acquired by Donaldson Company in 2008 and is a part of the Donaldson Aerospace and Defense Group.
¦ Swissport International announced personnel changes at its European cargo organization. Jan van Anrooy, formerly head of Swissport’s local cargo organization, has left the company. His former management duties will be performed by Wouter Brand (in parallel to his existing position as global key account manager at Swissport head office) until a permanent successor is appointed. Bob Bertellier, head of cargo at Swissport France, will be leaving the company in the next few weeks. Jean-Didier Savioz, head of ground handling at Swissport France and president of Swissport France, will resume full responsibility for all Swissport business lines in France.
