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In memory of ...
Remembering Lou Doerr
The sulfuric acid industry is mourning the Lou stayed on as the Vice President of Sales until loss of Louis John Doerr, Jr., who passed away his retirement in 1995. at age 90 on December 28, 2013. A native of As much as Lou was instrumental in Saint Louis, Mo., Lou began his education at making Lewis® Pumps a well-respected name Washington University before active duty in and sought-after brand throughout the world, World War II came calling. Lou left school at the his reach was felt far beyond the walls of the start of the war to join the Navy. He flew rescue company. Lou was an avid supporter of the missions in the Pacific, picking up British Sulfur Conference and was a downed U.S. airmen at sea. After member of the British Sulfur Board the war ended, Lou returned to of Directors. He also teamed with his home in Saint Louis and his others in the industry to establish studies at Washington University, the Sulfuric Acid Roundtable as a graduating with a degree in way for participants to exchange Mechanical Engineering. ideas and spur industry growth. Lou spent time as a salesman Lou was considered an expert in for Aero Tool before finding his the industry and his contributions Lou Doerr 1923-2013 way to Chas. S. Lewis & Co. in will indeed be missed. 1969. Lou and three other investors In his personal life, Lou and his wife purchased the company from Jim Lewis, son Rosemary had recently celebrated their 63rd of the company’s founder, Charles Lewis. wedding anniversary. Their five children, As Chairman of the Board, Lou focused on numerous grandchildren, and one greatchanging the company from a local success to grandchild helped complete the Doerr family– an international sensation. At the start of Lou’s Lou’s lasting legacy. Always active in the tenure, Lewis® Pumps products were sold in community, Lou was an avid fan of local sports the United States and Canada. Thanks to Lou’s teams as well as a skilled golfer and tennis player. persistence and his many contacts throughout ® He actively supported St. Louis FIRST Robotics, the industry, within eight years Lewis Pumps an organization aimed at inspiring high school products were sold in more than 90 countries students to be technology leaders with future around the world. Building on that success, Weir careers in engineering and science. Lou’s Minerals Lewis Pumps today has products in presence within his family, his community, and use in more than 120 countries. Though Lou and his investor partners sold the company in 1977, the sulfuric acid industry will be greatly missed.
In Memory of Bob Borges
while also raising pump quality for customers. The Lewis Pumps family and the sulfuric Bob also helped move the company in new acid industry have been deeply saddened by directions, such as initiating the company’s first the sudden passing of Robert “Bob” Borges molten salt pump and opening the door to the on January 5, 2014 at the age of 62. Bob’s company’s first sulfur recovery units. genuine nature and kind heart will be missed Bob was highly respected both at Lewis by his friends throughout the industry as well Pumps and throughout the industry. Coworkers as by his beloved wife, Kathy, and their two remember Bob as a good friend daughters, Liz and Margie. who would always stand behind Raised in Milwaukee, Wis., his workers and stand up for Bob graduated as a metallurgist what was right. He was loyal and from Michigan Technical Institute. supportive with an ever-present He began his career with the eye on moving the company and Falk Corporation in Milwaukee, the whole industry forward. Bob working on some of the largest gear enjoyed the opportunity to share reduction systems in the world. his expertise with others, and Bob later worked for American Bob Borges 1951-2014 throughout the years, he helped Magotteaux in Nashville, Tenn., many companies solve complex handling technical sales and problems and improve their systems. engineering troubleshooting. Retiring from Weir Minerals Lewis In March of 1985, Bob made the move to Pumps in 2009, Bob continued to work in the Chas. S. Lewis & Co., Inc. in Saint Louis, Mo. industry as a consultant. Outside of work, Bob Hired as a metallurgist, Bob was instrumental was a good golfer, always striving for his first in developing new materials for use in acid hole-in-one, and he had significant interest pumps. Over the years, he moved through in financial investments. He was very proud the organization as the Vice President of of his family, and often spoke of his wife and Engineering and later the Vice President of daughters. Bob’s boisterous laugh and beaming Sales & Marketing. His vast knowledge made smile always announced his arrival and will him a natural fit for field work, and Bob was be fondly remembered by those who knew often called on by customers around the world him. Bob was indeed one-of-a-kind and his to diagnose pump problems. He revamped the untimely passing has left a void that will not way Lewis® Pumps products were built and soon be filled. tested, increasing the profitability of pumps PAGE 4
Industry Insights Ma’aden Selects MECS® sulfuric acid technology from DuPont Sustainable Solutions for phosphate fertilizer complex WILMINGTON, Del.—DuPont Sustainable Solutions recently announced that MECS, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont, has been awarded the sulfuric acid technology license by the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) for its Waad Al Shamal Phosphate Project. MECS will provide the sulfuric acid technology and proprietary equipment for this three-line, 15,150 metric-ton-perday sulfuric acid facility. Ma’aden has selected a consortium led by long-time MECS licensee SNC Lavalin Group Inc. to perform engineering, procurement and construction of the sulfuric acid and power segments of the complex. When operational in 2016, the facility will be one of the largest worldclass phosphate fertilizer complexes, positioning Ma’aden as a significant global producer of fertilizers and other phosphate-based products. “We are proud to partner with Ma’aden and SNC on this landmark project and look forward to supporting Ma’aden in its endeavor to be a world-class minerals enterprise,” said Kirk Schall, MECS vice president of licensing. For more information, please visit www.sustainablesolutions.dupont.com.
Codelco taps Foster Wheeler for molybdenum refinery in Chile ZUG, Switzerland—Foster Wheeler AG recently announced that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract for engineering, procurement and related services for a grassroots molybdenum refinery in Chile. The contract was awarded by Molyb Ltda., an affiliate company of Codelco, the Chilean Copper Corporation, the world’s largest copper producing company and also a leading molybdenum concentrate producer. The new facility, planned to be one of the largest of its kind, will be located near Mejillones in northern Chile. The terms of the award were not disclosed. Foster Wheeler will undertake detailed engineering and provide procurement assistance and field engineering services for the new refinery, which is planned to process and refine 16,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of molybdenum feedstock, obtained from various Codelco copper concentrator plants. The facility is expected to yield molybdenum as well
as copper, rhenium and sulfuric acid as by-products. Molybdenum and rhenium are used in electronics, special steels, petroleum refineries and the aerospace industry. Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is scheduled to be completed during the second quarter of 2015. “This latest award is a further important step in the extension of our Minerals and Metals track record and in the further development of our already excellent working relationship with Codelco,” said Dave Lawson, president and global leader of minerals and metals, Foster Wheeler AG.“This award reflects Codelco’s continued confidence in the quality of our technical expertise in minerals processing and our project execution.” Foster Wheeler AG is a global engineering and construction company and power equipment supplier. The company’s Global Engineering and Construction Group designs and constructs leading-edge processing facilities for the upstream oil and gas, LNG and gasto-liquids, refining, chemicals and petrochemicals, power, minerals and metals, environmental, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare industries. The company’s Global Power Group is a world leader in combustion and steam generation technology that designs, manufactures and erects steam generating and auxiliary equipment for power stations and industrial facilities and also provides a wide range of aftermarket services. The company is based in Zug, Switzerland, and its operational headquarters office is in Reading, United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.fwc.com.
Chemtrade announces acquisition TORONTO, Ontario—Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund announced today that it has completed its previouslyannounced acquisition of Parsippany, NJ-based General Chemical Holding Company (General Chemical). The final total cash purchase price is expected to be approximately $900 million, after a working capital adjustment and payment of post-closing taxes. “This is a historic event for Chemtrade. The acquisition of General Chemical adds significant size, scale and scope to Chemtrade’s existing product and service platform,” said Chemtrade President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Davis. “General Chemical has strong portfolio alignment with our current business, enhancing our existing sulfuric acid geographic footprint and greatly expanding our water treatment business so it now extends across most of North America. The acquisition of Sulfuric Acid Today • Spring/Summer 2014