Komptech USA hires CEO Komptech USA has appointed Marcel Vallen as its CEO. Vallen has more than 25 years of experience in the waste handling industry; starting as a machine operator and rising to plant management and then executive positions. A native of the Netherlands, he has long worked closely with European and American machine manufacturers and has a thorough knowledge of all aspects of the market, on the technical, business and operational levels. Prior to joining Komptech, Vallen was CEO of CBI Europe, importing U.S.-made grinders and shredders for the European market.
 CPM appoints AW Process as industrial markets sales team CPM Roskcamp Champion announced a manufacturers&rsquo; sales representative agreement with AW Process LLC of Lakewood Ranch, Fla., to cover the industrial markets in Florida. Andy Woodford of AW Process will be the industrial market sales representative for CPM for all of Florida, except for the Panhandle. Woodford has more than 20 years of process equipment and systems experience, including size reduction, material handling and general powder-processing applications. He will be selling CPM&rsquo;s particle size reduction equipment, including hammermills, roll crushers and lump breakers, to industrial companies. AW Process is a bulk-material-handling equipment manufacturers&rsquo; representative company that specializes in size reduction equipment, pneumatic and mechanical conveying, valves, bagging and palletizing systems, load out spouts and more.
 Metso to supply biomass boilers to US power producer Metso will supply a 100-megawatt (MW) biomass boiler island and plant automation system to the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center in Gainesville, Fla. GREC has successfully raised nearly $500 million in construction financing of which Metso&rsquo;s delivery represents more than 25 percent. The biomass boiler will utilize bubbling fluidized bed technology and use waste wood from logging and mill activity as well as urban wood waste from clearing, tree trimming and pallets as the main fuel. Metso&rsquo;s complete delivery scope includes the entire boiler island and flue gas cleaning system. Metso will also supply the entire power plant automation system. Commercial operation of the plant is scheduled for 2013, and once operational, this 100-MW boiler will be one of the largest biomass boilers in the world.
 Hillenbrand taps Kohler to lead K-Tron&rsquo;s size reduction group Hillenbrand Inc. named Mark L. Kohler president of the size reduction group, a division of the company&rsquo;s K-Tron subsidiary. Kohler&rsquo;s primary responsibility is to oversee the strategy and global growth of the size reduction group&rsquo;s three brands: Gundlach, which manufactures crushing equipment used at mining sites for coal and other minerals; Pennsylvania Crusher, which makes crushing and sizing equipment used at utilities and other industrial processors; and Jeffrey Rader, which manufactures equipment used for processing bark and wood chips for the pulp, paper, forest products and biomass industries. A 35-year veteran in the industry, Kohler began his career as a designer at Gundlach in Belleville, Ill., working his way up through positions of increasing responsibility, including vice president of manufacturing.
 WSM introduces new biomass Super Shredders West Salem Machinery has introduced a new line of biomass Super Shredders that combine the efficiency of a high-speed mill with the durability of a heavy-duty grinder. Available with rotor widths from 60 to 88 inches, the machines deliver higher tip speed for smaller, consistent fiber sizing; increased screen area for more throughput; and flexible/interchangeable tooling. The largest WSM biomass Super Shredder&mdash;the Model 4888S&mdash;operates with 400 to 800 horsepower to convert high volumes of preprocessed biomass materials. The Super Shredders have production rates of up to 100 tons per hour eliminating the need for multiple machines.
 Morbark continues to expand dealer network Morbark continues to expand its dealer network, adding six since late 2010, and expanding the territories of several existing dealers. The Morbark dealer network, which has grown to more than 65 dealers and 150 locations throughout North America, strives to improve customer service, equipment service and support. Morbark dealers signed in the past year include: Columbus Equipment Co., Ohio; Bartlett Manufacturing, eastern Michigan; White Star Machinery, Oklahoma; Fabick Caterpillar, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois; Schmidt Equipment, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; and Elliott and Frantz, Maryland and Delaware. Current full-line dealer, Doggett Machinery Services, expanded its territory to include Texas (except Bowie and Cass counties). The expansion added Texas to an already established territory of Louisiana. In addition, Newtown Power, a dealer in certain Connecticut counties, expanded its territory to cover all of Connecticut.
 Wisconsin hospital selects Hurst Boiler to help meet its green goals St. Elizabeth Hospital, part of Affinity Health System in Appleton, Wis., is one of the few hospitals in the U.S. to achieve an energy performance rating in the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide&mdash;earning it the Energy Star designation from the U.S. EPA. Working closely with Affiliated Engineers, Boldt Construction and Tweet/Garot Mechanical to design and install the energy efficient central utility plant, St. Elizabeth&rsquo;s selected the Hurst Boiler Scotch Marine Series 500 system to help meet its green healthcare initiative goals. The hospital&rsquo;s old boiler system used to cycle constantly, even in warm weather. &ldquo;Now, with outside air temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, our 700 HP Hurst Boilers don&rsquo;t even cycle,&rdquo; says Ron Piotrowski, plant operations for St. Elizabeth Hospital.
 ACORE&rsquo;s Weirich appointed to WCRE committee of chairpersons The American Council On Renewable Energy announced that Tom Weirich, vice president membership and corporate relations, has been appointed to the World Council for Renewable Energy&rsquo;s committee of chairpersons as the 2012 chairperson for the U.S. Weirich has been with ACORE for more than seven years. He was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, to be vice chair of the Renewable Energy &amp; Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee in 2010. He has established a leadership role within the U.S. renewable energy industry, focusing specifically on the development of programs to expand the competitiveness of the U.S. renewable energy industry, including programs and policies to expand exports of goods and services of hundreds of U.S. companies. Through ACORE, he maintains international relationships with the Renewable Energy &amp; Energy Efficiency Partnership, Renewable Energy Network for the 21st Century, and the International Renewable Energy Agency. Weirich will continue in his role at ACORE. His WCRE committee of chairpersons&rsquo; appointment began on Aug. 8.
 Nations Energy secures site for Kamloops biomass power project Nations Energy Corp. through its wholly owned subsidiary, Cedarhurst Forestry Products Inc., has entered into a 15-year lease agreement with Biosource Power Ltd. concurrent to their purchase of the lands, buildings and pellet manufacturing facilities in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, from Farm Credit Canada. Under the agreement, Cedarhurst will lease a portion of the property as the permanent site for its planned biomass power project pursuant to Nations Energy's selection by BC Hydro under its Community-Based Biomass Power program for Kamloops. Both Biosource and Cedarhurst plan to cooperate with respect to the use of the facilities including potential arrangements on fiber supply, for pellet production and distribution, including shared use of rail transport facilities.
 New sonic horn improves operating efficiency, consistency Martin Engineering has introduced the Martin Sonic Horn, an acoustic cleaner that reduces system downtime, maintenance and operating costs, while improving performance and prolonging equipment life. In addition to the low cost of ownership, acoustic cleaning helps avoid structural fatigue or damage, prevents dry particulate build-up and increases system efficiency. Especially effective around pipes and behind obstacles, sonic energy de-bonds particulates with a 360-degree sweep, cleaning inaccessible parts. Sonic horns produce low-frequency, high-pressure sound waves, which are created when compressed air flexes a titanium diaphragm in the sound generator. This sound wave is then magnified as it is emitted through the cleaner&rsquo;s bell. The sound pressure causes dry particulate deposits to resonate and become fluidized, allowing them to be removed by constant gas flow or gravity.

Marcel Vallen will use his expertise in the waste handling industry in Europe and the U.S. in his new role as CEO of Komptech. 

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Mark L. Kohler will head up K-Tron's size reduction group, which includes Gundlach, Pennsylvania Crusher and Jeffrey Rader. 

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SUPERSIZED: WSM's Super Shredders can grind massive amounts of biomass material at a high rate of speed.


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SOUND SCIENCE: Martin Engineering's Sonic Horn uses sonic energy to clean inaccessible equipment parts. 

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