Manufacturing

Swedish clothing retailer H&M was the biggest user of organic cotton worldwide for the second consecutive year in 2011, according to Textile Exchange's latest Global Sustainable Textiles Market Report.

“H&M's ambitious program continues to drive demand for organic cotton and other more sustainable fibres,” said LaRhea Pepper, managing director of Textile Exchange.

South Africa-based Filcon Filters has set an ambitious target of 25 percent annual growth over the next three years. Directors Vernon Clarke, Tony Henfrey and George Canning talk about running a knowledge-based business.

Air Products today announced the award of a contract to supply two oxygen plants at the site of a copper smelter being built in Zambia by Kansanshi Mining Plc. 

The scope of the agreement includes Air Products supply of two 750 metric ton per day oxygen plants, and all air separation unit (ASU) related equipment and design. The construction of the facility will be undertaken by Kansanshi Mining Plc, with cooperation from Air Products. The ASUs are planned to be on-stream in 2014.

Joseph Otieno, acting managing director, discusses how KVM, and Kenya as a whole, is attracting the interest of some of the planet’s most recognisable players in the automotive industry.

United Technologies Corp is selling the former Goodrich Corporation pump and engine control systems business to TransDigm Group Incorporated for approximately $236 million in cash.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, but closing is expected late this year or early in 2013.

The bank’s purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 49.1 this month, its highest level in three months. Aided by an increase in new orders, the figure is the latest in a long line to suggest an improvement in fortunes for the world’s second biggest economy.

Ron F. Anderson, executive director, talks about how the diversification of the company has helped it become globally recognised as a builder of first-class vessels.

Power generation and temperature control leader Aggreko has been called in to supply power to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) for White Cement, one of the Emirate’s leading producers of high quality white cement.

The cement company called Aggreko when one of its gas turbines failed and standby power had been shut down for annual maintenance, causing a significant reduction in capacity.

RAK Co. for White Cement produces a specially blended white cement dust that is in high demand and is supplied all over the GCC - around 450,000 tonnes of cement a year.

Having established a reputation for solving tough industrial drying problems, particularly in the minerals industry, South African engineering company Drytech is now taking that expertise globally.