USA and Canada

Industrial products supplier Affinia Group has relocated and expanded its west coast Global Brake & Chassis Distribution Center after continued growth in the western United States and Canada.

Distribution services have been moved from a 150,000-square-foot facility in Modesto, California to a new 390,000-square-foot facility in Patterson, California.

Low-cost gold producer Goldcorp today signed a collaboration agreement with local communities in northern Quebec regarding the development and operation of its Eléonore gold project.

The signing ceremony, involving the Cree Nation of Wemindji, the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) and the Cree Regional Authority, took place in Wemindji, Quebec.

Chinese telecomms equipment maker Huawei has changed its mind about the controversial acquisition of US server manufacturer 3Leaf, after national security concerns had been raised in the US.

Huawei purchased intellectual property from 3Leaf in May 2010 for $2 million but the deal caused concern in the US government, as it had not been cleared through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Huawei initially rejected the CFIUS's recommendation to voluntarily divest from acquisition, but has now had a change of heart.

Agnico-Eagle Mines has reported net income of $88.0 million ($0.53 per share) for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with $47.9 million ($0.31 per share) in the same quarter last year.

French pharmaceutical group Sanofi-Aventis has agreed to buy US biotech company Genzyme for €14.8 billion, following months of wrangling over price.

The deal will give Paris-based Sanofi valuable access to the market for drugs that treat rare diseases.

Patents on some of Sanofi’s bestselling drugs have recently expired, leading to a downturn in sales. Its blood thinning drug Plavix, for example, is expected to face generic competition next year. Last year, Plavix accounted for about nine per cent of Sanofi's total sales.

2011 will see Taggart South Africa emerging as a one-stop-shop for bulk materials handling projects for all southern Africa’s mining projects, plus the ability to offer full EPC and EPCM services to its clients.

After the acquisition of Mexico’s San Dimas mining properties from Goldcorp, the company is well on the way to achieving its ambition to become a leading intermediate gold producer.

Primero Mining Corp. is a Canadian-based precious metals producer with every intention of becoming a leading intermediate gold producer, as attested by its acquisition from Goldcorp of the San Dimas gold/silver mine in Mexico last year, for a total consideration of $500 million.

From humble beginnings in Germany as the “plaster master”, to a major facilitator of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project, Putzmeister America has had an eventful fifty years.

Specializing in concrete and material placing equipment for the construction industry, Putzmeister America is the North American division of one of the world's most recognized and respected heavy equipment manufacturers, Putzmeister Concrete Pumps GmbH.

The consolidation of the Canadian Forces Station at St. John’s, Newfoundland will see the demolition of 16 aging buildings, and their replacement by two modern facilities.

Bird Construction, established in Canada in 1920, has experience in most construction market sectors, but having built a reputation in military construction projects during World War II, it retains a special foothold and expertise in projects for the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND).

Innovation is part of company DNA at Marcotte Mining Machinery. General manager Denis Rienguette tells Gay Sutton how customization and R&D help the company stay ahead in this volatile industry.