Energy crop company Ceres, Inc. and Novozymes, the world’s largest enzyme provider, have entered a research collaboration to co-develop customized plant varieties and enzyme cocktails for the production of cellulosic biofuel. The companies expect to improve the process of converting biomass to fuel through more effective enzymes and higher quality energy crops in a joint optimization project that will lead to greater fuel yields, as well as lower capital and operating costs.

Dan received his honours degree in engineering from Brunel University in London and has since acquired a wealth of international expertise in texture analysis and materials testing. With extensive experience in polymers, pharmaceuticals, food and the biomedical industry, Dan will be instrumental in driving forward Stable Micro Systems’ growth in both new and existing markets. He now assumes his responsibility for Ireland, Germany and parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

At the beginning of 2009, Krones AG increased its holding in Kosme S.R.L., Roverbella, Italy, to 100 per cent. Under the umbrella brand of Kosme – comprising Kosme GmbH in Austria and Kosme s.r.l. in Italy – the Krones group, the world’s market leader for beverage and filling and packaging technology in the medium and high-speed segments, is now additionally offering a complete range of lines for the low output range as well.

At GEA Brewery Systems, plant operators can determine their individual service level themselves. Depending on the equipment, the degree of capacity utilization and the convenience they want, they can choose from a range of different service modules. The advantage of this kit of technical service modules: specific service ensures high plant availability and efficient processes with increased operational safety and optimized production costs.

A new, free-of-charge software is now available from the Siemens Industry Automation Division for calculating the best possible configuration of photovoltaic (PV) plants. The program, Sinvert Select V2.2, can be downloaded from the Internet at www.siemens.com/sinvert-select. It enables the planner to evaluate in advance the cost-effectiveness of PV plants from 10 kW up to the megawatt range. A comparison of possible configurations shows the energy yield of the various plant arrangements. The software is available in German, English, French, Italian and Spanish, and has been specially designed for Sinvert PV inverters.

JohnsonDiversey, Inc. and JohnsonDiversey Holdings, Inc. announced in March that the Board of Directors of both entities has approved a change of their corporate names. JohnsonDiversey, Inc. is changing its name to Diversey, Inc. and JohnsonDiversey Holdings, Inc. is changing its name to Diversey Holdings, Inc., both effective immediately.

An optimally conceived beverage plant needs state-of-the-art technology with the best possible material flows in a responsively tailored building, with comprehensive IT networking and perfectly matched utilities. Krones AG is well able to meet all these complex requirements for a beverage factory, drawing upon the experience gained in numerous projects already completed.

Symrise AG enjoyed a robust increase in business in 2009 despite the challenging market environment. The company increased sales by 3.2 percent at actual rates and by 2.7 percent at local currency. Symrise thus again enjoyed stronger growth than the flavor and fragrances market, which stagnated in 2009.

For reasons of safety and reliability, the importance of being able to trace products throughout the supply chain has strongly increased in recent years. The new ISO 17367:2009 standard will help manufacturers and distributors to track products and to manage their traceability thanks to standardized RF tags.

As of 1 April 2010, Radeberger Group will be the exclusive distributor of Guinness and Kilkenny draught beer as well as Stowford Cider products in Germany.

The Gutmann wheat beer brewery in Titting, Bavaria, has been family owned and operated since 1855. Since 1913, wheat beer has been produced in Titting. Meanwhile, the Gutmann family has specialized in this type of beer and is still using the original traditional method. In addition to consistently high product quality, conservation of natural resources is an important issue for the brewery. This is laid down in the brewery’s environmental management, which is certified according to DIN EN ISO 14001:2004. One of the objectives is the continuous reduction of energy and water consumption.