ASSOPIASTRELLE CREATES NEW ASSOCIATION
At the recent general assembly meeting of Assopiastrelle (the Italian Association of Ceramic Tile and Refractory Manufacturers), the board of directors unanimously decided to join forces with a group of prominent manufacturers of decorative ceramics and porcelain sanitaryware to create a new association with a broader mission. Effective January 1, 2007, Assopiastrelle became Confindustria Ceramica. The organization will represent a wide range of companies that all share roots in the production of ceramics. In addition to ceramic tile and refractory manufacturers, the sectors covered are ceramic dishware, decorative ceramics/vases and sanitaryware.
For more information, visit www.assopiastrelle.it.

DU-CO ACQUIRES ASSETS OF SAXONBURG CERAMICS
Du-Co Ceramics Co. and Saxonburg Ceramics, Inc., both headquartered in Saxonburg, Pa., recently announced that Du-Co is acquiring certain Saxonburg Ceramics assets. Eighty-three-year-old Saxonburg Ceramics will close its Saxonburg manufacturing facility. The acquisition is a natural extension of Du-Co’s core competency with ceramic materials including steatite, cordierite, aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide. Du-Co will phase some of the acquired business into its state-of-the-art facility, and will continue to operate Saxonburg Ceramics’ Monroe, N.C., facility. Du-Co, an ISO 9001:2000 certified manufacturer, is a producer of precision ceramic components for a variety of applications.
Visit www.du-co.com for more information.

HOCKMEYER NAMES NEW EQUIPMENT REPRESENTATIVE
Hockmeyer Equipment Corp. recently announced an agreement with MorehouseCowles to represent Hockmeyer’s milling, particle analysis and tank washing equipment. Located in Chino, Calif., MorehouseCowles has territorial responsibilities that cover the Western U.S., including the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. 
Call (252) 338-4705 or e-mail sales@hockmeyer.com for more information.

MOHR TO CONDUCT AUCTION OF RIDELTIN ASSETS
Due to the closure of Rideltin Powdered Metals, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pa., Mohr Corp. will hold a public auction sale of all Rideltin assets on January 30, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. The sale includes all manufacturing and office machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, including quality control instrumentation and equipment, powdered metal presses, furnaces and other production equipment, material handling equipment, and much more. The sale will be conducted on behalf of the secured lender by Mohr Corp. in partnership with F.H. Fall Liquidations/Auctions. It will be an absolute auction sale with no minimums and no reserve prices, with everything to be sold for the highest price bid on that date. 
For additional information, contact Mohr at (800) 223-6647, e-mail sales@mohrcorp.com or visit www.mohrcorp.com/auction. F.H. Fall Liquidations/Auctions can be reached at (412) 241-7443 or e-mail fhfall@comcast.net.

SACMI INTRODUCES NEW RANGE OF PRESSES FOR CERAMIC TILE
As part of its ongoing product improvement policy, Sacmi has launched a new range of high-tonnage presses. Named IMOLA, the new range will replace the current POWER series, inaugurated in 1999 with the introduction of the PH7200. The new IMOLA models feature a luminous status indicator installed in a central position on the upper part of the machine, providing useful information on press status even at a distance. Beneath the restyled shell, the press has also undergone significant technical developments. Assembled using the preloaded wire technique, the press frame incorporates the main cylinder in which the pressing piston slides. In this configuration, optimized rigidity of the various structural parts ensures uniform distribution of the pressing load under all working conditions, even on the larger models.
Sacmi’s website is located at www.sacmi.com.

SAINT-GOBAIN ABRASIVES ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP CHANGES
Joseph H. Menendez has been appointed president of Saint-Gobain Abrasives, effective immediately. Responsible for all of Saint-Gobain Abrasives’ worldwide operations, he maintains offices in Worcester, Mass., and Paris, France. Menendez had been vice president of Saint-Gobain Abrasives North America since 2005. In addition, Mark Rayfield has been appointed vice president and general manager for Saint-Gobain Abrasives North America. Rayfield joined Saint-Gobain Abrasives in 1999 and was most recently vice president of sales and marketing.
For additional information, visit www.saint-gobain.com or www.saint-gobain.com/us.

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