ACE11: Notes From The Exhibition Floor
By Kevin Westerling
Washington, D.C. recently played host to the longest-running water conference in the world, as the American Water Works Association (AWWA) conducted its 130th Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE). From June 12 to 16, ACE11 welcomed more than 500 exhibitors and a pre-show estimate of more than 10,000 water professionals to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in the heart of the nation's capital.
Though official numbers will not be available until mid-July, it seemed as though attendance was slightly down from last year, when it surpassed 12,000. That said, ACE11 was still a huge and successful event, featuring hundreds of workshops, presentations, and seminars, as well as the leading companies in the industry showcasing the latest products and technologies.
As usual, Water Online was on hand for this important event, and we've compiled the following booth-by-booth report from the show floor.
Amiad Filtration Systems
Amiad, at ACE11 for the time since its acquisition of Arkal Filtration Systems, was eager to demonstrate the Arkal Spin Klin Disc technology. The unique design incorporates stacks of plastic discs that deliver filtration between 400 and 20 microns, capturing algae and other organic solids while resisting the corrosion common with metal screens. Pictured above, Jim Lauria, vice president of marketing and business development, showcases the system for an attendee.
AVO Training Institute
AVO vice president of sales and operations, Steven Foutch (pictured at right), was on hand at ACE11 to discuss the importance of training certification for municipalities. To help ensure the flow of pure water and the electricity essential to provide it, AVO offers certification programs for substation maintenance, protective relay maintenance, and low-voltage circuit breaker maintenance, as well as arc flash hazard analysis for worker safety.
Calgon Carbon Corporation
Calgon Carbon had one of the more entertaining booths at the show, as a trick-shot pool performer wowed the crowd with his skills, all the while touting the company's granular activated carbon as a low-cost, environmentally friendly drinking water treatment solution. Besides the billiards play, I also enjoyed meeting with Ralph Franco, sales director for Calgon Carbon's UV Technologies Division, who highlighted the impressive-looking Sentinel UV disinfection system (shown at right) and some recent municipal contract awards it earned for the company.
EBAA Iron
ACE11 marked the tradeshow debut of EBAA Iron's new MEGA-STOP PVC Bell Protection System. Dennis Shumard, product support manager for EBAA Iron and inventor of the MEGA-STOP, explained how the unique design of the system prevents "over-insertion" when assembling pipe joints. Proper installation of push-on joints, facilitated by the mechanism, allows for expansion and contraction of the pipe (thus reducing damaging stresses) and enables simple, visual inspection of the assembled joint.
Emerson Process Management, Rosemount Analytical
Emerson was also showcasing brand new technology at the show, having just released to market the reagent- and pump-free Rosemount Analytical WQP systems for real-time analysis of ammonia and fluoride in drinking water. As explained by Business Development Manager Marc Mason, the new ion monitoring technology reduces initial costs and maintenance requirements. The systems come pre-configured, pre-calibrated, and fully qualified to install, plug-in, and immediately place into service.
Hach
During my visit with Hach, I was fortunate enough to get a first-hand tutorial on the Hach Water Information Management Solution (WIMS) from Chuck Scholpp, director of integrated information management. Chuck also conducted a presentation for attendees on the "5 Tricks To Lean Water Operations," which is available online here.
ITT
At ITT's booth, the company focused on the breadth of its capabilities through its expansive lineup of specialty brands. The WEDECO Quadron UV system and ECORAY UV lamps, for example, were announced during a special presentation, as was the Leopold Desalination Pretreatment Solutions product line.
Layne Christensen
Visiting Layne Christensen's booth, it was apparent that the company has a knack for innovation. Through marketing manager David Osgood, I was introduced to the world's only PFTE hollow fiber membrane, known as Poreflon, featured exclusively on Layne Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs). Furthermore, Layne had on display a model of the rescue capsule that saved the lives of 33 Chilean miners last October, and I learned about Louisville Water Company's award-winning Riverbank Filtration project constructed with collector wells from Ranney – one of Layne Christensen's brands.
Master Meter
Ian MacLeod, VP of marketing at Master Meter, shared with me some of the company's latest product advancements, namely the Octave Ultrasonic Meter and the Eco-Hybrid meter. According to the company, the Octave offers the lowest known measurement for a commercial and industrial large meter, detecting 1/16 GPM for the 4-in. model (also available in 2-, 3-, 6-, and 8-in. sizes). Also new from Master Meter, shown for the first time at ACE11 (and pictured at right), is the Eco-Hybrid meter. The meter is protected by a metallic exoskeleton, but features a plastic interior that reduces its weight by 15% and prevents water flow contact with metal.
Mueller Co.
In light of the new distribution agreement recently struck with Advanced Valve Technologies (AVT), ACE11 provided the first opportunity for Mueller Co. to showcase the EZ2 Insertion Valve System (pictured at left) in its booth. Mueller's Bob Abbot explained how the system requires only a narrow slot in the pipe for valve insertion, providing for quick installation and increased pipe integrity. Bob also introduced me to Mueller's latest product offering, the Adjusta-Coil Meter Box, which compensates for grade changes without adding separate extensions – just twist to unlock, adjust the setting, and twist again to secure in place.
Mueller Water Products
The staff of Mueller Water Products was in full force at ACE11, representing its many subsidiary companies and capabilities. Marc Bracken, vice president and general manager of Toronto-based Echologics, explained to me the acoustic technology behind the Windows-based LeakFinderRT leak noise correlator, which identifies "quiet," narrow-band leak noise to allow for pinpoint leak detection. Similarly, Echologics' non-invasive technique provides pipe condition assessment for municipalities, a service recently utilized to great effect by the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
Hassan Ali of Mueller Systems later demonstrated how the new 420 Remote Disconnect Meter (RDM) integrates with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), such as in the company's Mi.Net System, for safe, easy, and cost-efficient remote management. The capability to connect and disconnect meters remotely also benefits consumers, who can gain even further control of their water usage through Mi.Data.
McCrometer, Inc.
Meeting with Adam Setzler, associate product manager for McCrometer, I learned that the company is bringing its RemoteCONNECT Telemetry System (pictured) to the municipal market. Already established as an irrigation management solution, the wireless remote monitoring system provides flow data, 24/7, via the Internet, ensuring accurate billing and water allocation. ACE11 also marked the debut of the newest version of the FPI Mag (Full Profile Insertion) Flow Meter, now offering forward and reverse flow measurement.
Neptune Technology Group Inc.
Neptune enjoyed plenty of traffic in its booth, where it was showcasing for the first time the full family of battery-powered TRU/MAG electromagnetic water meters for use in 4- to 10-in. installations. With minimal maintenance required (battery replacement expected after five years of continuous use) and no less than 99% accuracy, the meters are designed as a cost-effective solution to non-revenue water (NRW) issues. Neptune's senior product marketing manager, Andre Noel, also informed me of the company's "Shed The Lead" campaign in response to new federal regulations. Learn more about this green initiative here, or visit the newly launched website www.shedthelead.com.
Parkson/MIOX
Parkson and MIOX shared booth space at ACE11, on the heels of the big news that they have joined forces to develop the market for on-site generation (OSG) disinfection systems. I met with both companies' CEOs – Zain Mahmood (left) for Parkson and Carlos Perea for MIOX – as they prepared for a reception to celebrate the agreement. As an exclusive distribution partner, Parkson will market and sell MIOX's proprietary hypochlorite and mixed-oxidant systems to municipalities throughout the United States and Canada, as well as six Middle East countries. Perea cited Parkson's strong sales channel and reputation as initiatives for the move, while Mahmood lauded MIOX's green and safe disinfection technology, which was found on display in the form of the MaximOS.
Real Tech
Real Tech's Drew Evans and Melissa Driscoll (pictured) introduced me to the latest addition to the company's line of analytical instrumentation products, the Real Spectrum Analyzer, which is capable of real-time process monitoring and scanning across the whole spectrum of UV and/or visible light. Also on display at the booth: the Real UVT Online Monitor and the Real UV254 Hi-Pure Online Monitor.
Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric drew attention on the show floor this year due to an impressive booth display showcasing its range of energy solutions. Representing Schneider's Water Wastewater Competency Center (WWCC), Alan Hudson described the company's comprehensive energy plan – buoyed by the recent acquisition of Control Microsystems – which includes telemetry and remote SCADA systems, power automation, control security, and process energy automation. The eye-catching, futuristic "green car," powered by Schneider technology, drew loads of rubber-necking and picture-taking from attendees.
Siemens
Siemens' booth is always prominent and well-populated at ACE, and this year was no exception. Trude Witham of Siemens sat with me to discuss the company's most recent product and project announcements. Regarding the former, the AquaCarb CX Series of coconut shell-based activated carbons is new to the North American market, and has shown in Siemens' studies to exhibit a higher adsorption capacity than coal-based carbon for surface water treatment, with greater throughput before carbon breakthrough. On the project front, Siemens is very proud of the partnership forged with Singapore's Public Utility Board (PUB) that is making strides in lowering energy consumption for desalination.
Trojan Technologies
Trojan Technologies arrived at ACE11 boasting a bright, new booth display and a new designation for its Trojan UVSwiftSC, which recently became the first-ever drinking water UV system to achieve U.S. EPA validation for 4-log inactivation of viruses. As such, the system provides multi-barrier protection against Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and the highly resistant adenovirus. According to Adam Festger, drinking water market manager for Trojan, the UVSwiftSC solution reduces the reliance on chemicals, the need for increased chlorine concentrations, and the formation of disinfection byproducts.
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL)
UL has been ensuring product safety for over a century, and was on hand at ACE11 to announce some significant company developments pertaining to drinking water. Hank Lambert, general manager of global food and water, shared with me the breaking news that UL had become the first lab certified for water testing in all 50 U.S. states. UL has also recently expanded its range of testing capabilities, which now includes detection of chromium-6 and the 28 new contaminants proposed in the U.S. EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR 3). In addition, to serve manufacturers and distributors of drinking water system components, UL announced publication of its new white paper on lead-level compliance.
UV Pure
Always a great forum for discovery and networking, ACE provided me the opportunity to meet Rick VanSant, president and CEO of UV Pure. VanSant shared with me that his company has grown 45% per year over the last three years, has installed its milestone 10,000th treatment system, and was included in the 2011 Artemis Top 50 list of most innovative water companies. The Hallet UV systems produced by the company are now being sold in group configurations, increasing the scale of operation for municipal and commercial applications. The versatile systems are also used in residential applications, and were recently selected by Boeing as the disinfection system for the new 787 Dreamliner commercial airplane.
See you next year in Dallas!