In 10 years, Al Suwaidi Equipment and Transport Company Limited has grown from being a basic equipment rental company into a major league player in the equipment services and engineered heavy lift arena for the petrochemical and hydrocarbon markets in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East—and by forming smart alliances, it is now active throughout the region wherever heavy lifting is required.

This South African-based specialist in aircraft seating made from composite materials is well-placed to take advantage of the international effort to reduce the weight of airliners.

AAT Composites is a specialist in the manufacture of high-tech, high-specification composite carbon and glass fibre seating components for the airline industry. The company was founded near Cape Town, South Africa, in 1983 as Aerodyne Technology, later becoming Aerodyne Aviation Technology.

Two new power stations that will convert landfill gas to electricity are to be installed at Fort Benning, Georgia, as part of a green power initiative by the US Department of Defense.

Irvine, California-based FlexEnergy will deliver two of its Powerstation units to Fort Benning in collaboration with Southern Research Institute (SRI) through the DoD's Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTC).

Work is progressing well on South Africa’s Mossel Bay desalination plant project, according to a report by marine services provider SMIT Amandla Marine.

The Cape Town-based company submitted a tender to provide marine services on the project last September and subsequently won the contract.

Lockheed Martin has passed a landmark in its F-35 Lightning II program with the inaugural flight of the first production model of the jet sometimes referred to as the stealth fighter or joint strike fighter.

The one-hour flight of an F-35A conventional takeoff-and-landing version took off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

Ford Motor Company announced today that its supply network is creating thousands of new jobs around the world to support the launch of the new Ford Focus.

Ford is using 310 suppliers in 22 countries to make parts for the new Focus, and many are adding jobs, facilities and equipment to meet demand for the vehicle. Suppliers have added 5,500 jobs at facilities in North America, Europe and Asia to produce parts for the new Focus.

Madrid-based pharmaceutical group Zeltia has reported strong results for the year ending 31 December 2010.

The group’s net revenues for 2010 totalled €153.5 million, a rise of 24.4 per cent from 2009, when revenues were €123.4 million. Zeltia said the increase was largely due to a 70 per cent growth in sales of Yondelis, Spain’s first anti-tumour drug.

At year-end, Yondelis had been approved for sale in 63 countries, 33 of which are outside the European Economic Area.

Newmont Mining, the world’s largest producer of gold, announced record results today for the year ended 31 December 2010.

Revenue of $9.5 billion represents a 24 percent increase over 2009. Gold and copper production came in at 5.4 million ounces and 327 million pounds, respectively, with gold production up only slightly while copper production was up almost 44 percent over 2009.

In Q4 2010 Newmont produced 1.4 million ounces of gold and 74 million pounds of copper.

Northern Irish bus building company the Wright Group has announced it will supply 334 new vehicles to transport company Arriva in a deal worth £55 million.

The contract will see the Wright Group manufacture 204 double deckers and 130 single deckers, with production beginning this spring and delivery expected later in the year.

The Ballymena-based company said that 184 of the buses would be its Wrightbus Gemini 2 DL integral Double Deck model, and 20 would be the Eclipse Gemini 2 Double Deck buses, adding to Arriva’s existing hybrid fleet in London.