July 12, 2010

Highlights:

* Income from continuing operations of $137 million or $0.13 per share; net income of $136 million or $0.13 per share.
* Revenue of $5.2 billion, a six percent increase from the first quarter of 2010, primarily driven by higher volume.
* EBITDA of $724 million — EBITDA Margin of 14.0 percent highest since third quarter 2008.
* Free cash flow in the second quarter totaled $87 million.
* Cash on hand of $1.34 billion.
* Global aluminum consumption forecast raised from 10 to 12 percent on improved end-market demand.

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alcoa (NYSE: AA) today announced second quarter 2010 income from continuing operations of $137 million or $0.13 per share compared with a first quarter 2010 loss from continuing operations of $194 million, or a loss of $0.19 per share. First quarter 2010 results included restructuring and special charges of $295 million, or $0.29 per share. The second quarter of 2009 showed a loss from continuing operations of $312 million, or $0.32 per share including restructuring charges.

Earnings for the second quarter improved $331 million sequentially as stronger volumes, productivity improvements, favorable currency and lower energy costs more than offset slightly lower average realized metal prices which declined $22 a metric ton, to an average of $2,309 a ton in the quarter.

The second quarter 2010 results reflect the impact of restructuring including job reductions and special items such as costs associated with the recently completed United Steelworkers contract negotiations, offset by non-cash, mark-to-market benefits on derivatives in several power contracts as well as a net discrete tax benefit. Taken together these items had a net unfavorable impact of $2 million in the quarter. First quarter 2010 results included restructuring and special charges of $295 million or $0.29 per share.

Revenues for the quarter were $5.2 billion, a six percent increase from the first quarter of 2010 driven by a four percent increase in aluminum shipments and a one percent increase in third-party prices for alumina, partially offset by a one percent decrease in realized prices for aluminum. In many markets we saw strong revenue growth from the previous quarter with packaging (+17%), commercial transportation (+10%), building and construction (+9%), distribution (+5%), industrial gas turbines (+5%) and aerospace (+5%) realizing gains. Revenues increased 22 percent from $4.2 billion in the second quarter of 2009.

“We improved profits and revenues and maintained our solid cash position,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and CEO. “The top and bottom line growth was driven by higher volumes from stronger end markets and continued gains from our productivity programs. Based on this improved end-market demand, we are raising our projection for aluminum consumption from 10 percent to 12 percent this year.

“Prospects for Alcoa and aluminum continue to be excellent,” Kleinfeld said. “Aluminum is traditionally a backbone of growing economies and is penetrating new applications every day. Alcoa has enviable positions in bauxite, alumina and aluminum and our investments will move us further down the cost curve. Meanwhile, our mid- and downstream businesses continue to improve margins.”

Alcoa continued to produce strong results in its cash sustainability program. After the first six months of 2010, the Company is tracking toward its expanded goals for 2010, including: $1.4 billion of the targeted $2.5 billion in procurement savings; $311 million of the targeted $500 million in annual overhead reduction savings; days of working capital at 42, a six-day improvement from the same period last year; and $514 million toward the targeted $1.25 billion in capital spending. The capital spending includes the Company’s investment in the Ma’aden/Alcoa joint venture in Saudi Arabia, which will create the world’s lowest-cost aluminum complex, including a mine, refinery, smelter and rolling mill.

Cash sustainability efforts helped improve the cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales by 90 basis points to 81.2 percent from 82.1 percent in the first quarter of 2010. EBITDA for the second quarter 2010 was $724 million. The Company’s second quarter 2010 EBITDA margin of 14.0 percent was the highest since third quarter 2008.

Net income for the second quarter 2010 was $136 million or $0.13 per share compared with a net loss of $201 million, or a loss of $0.20 per share in the first quarter of 2010, which includes the previously mentioned restructuring and special items. The second quarter of 2009 showed a net loss of $454 million, or $0.47 per share, including restructuring charges.

Free cash flow in the second quarter of 2010 totaled $87 million. In the quarter, the Company ended several accounts receivable sales programs, which resulted in an unfavorable working capital impact of approximately $260 million and held free cash flow back from even stronger performance.

Debt-to-capital at the end of the second quarter 2010 stands at 38.4 percent, 130 basis points lower than the second quarter of 2009. Overall debt decreased $465 million from the second quarter of 2009. Cash on hand at the end of the second quarter of 2010 was $1.34 billion.

Revenues for the first half of 2010 were $10.1 billion, and results from continuing operations showed a loss of $57 million, or $0.06 per share. The first half of 2010 showed a net loss of $65 million, or $0.06 per share.

Segment Results

Alumina

After-tax operating income (ATOI) in the second quarter was $94 million, an increase of $22 million compared with first quarter ATOI of $72 million. Higher production and a one percent increase in realized price, along with favorable currency and productivity benefits, were partially offset by commissioning issues at the Sao Luis refinery. Alumina production in the second quarter increased 24 thousand metric tons (kmt) to 3,890 kmt as increases across our global system more than offset declines at Sao Luis.

Primary Metals

ATOI in the second quarter was $109 million, a decrease of $14 million from the first quarter. Lower LME prices and higher LME-linked costs, primarily energy, were partially offset by favorable currency, non-LME-linked energy benefits and continued productivity gains. Litigation related to a power contract at the Rockdale smelter and the associated legal costs negatively impacted results by $10 million. Also in the quarter, the Fusina smelter was fully curtailed and the Aviles smelter was forced to halt operations due to flooding. Primary metal production for the quarter increased 4 kmt to 893 kmt and buy/resell activity totaled 68 kmt.

Flat-Rolled Products

ATOI in the second quarter was $71 million, a sequential increase of $41 million. Higher volumes in Russia, China and North America, and continued productivity gains were partially offset by lower prices. In the quarter, the Russia operations benefited from improving market conditions and a lower cost structure to generate positive ATOI.

Engineered Products and Solutions

ATOI in the second quarter was $107 million, up 32 percent while sales rose four percent. Higher volumes in the aerospace, building & construction and commercial vehicle markets along with strong productivity gains.

Alcoa will hold its quarterly conference call at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on July 12, 2010 to present the quarter’s results. The meeting will be webcast via alcoa.com. Call information and related details are available at www.alcoa.com under “Invest.”

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “outlook,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect Alcoa’s expectations, assumptions, or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, forecasts concerning aluminum industry growth, aluminum end-market demand or other trend projections, anticipated financial results or operating performance, anticipated achievement of 2010 cash sustainability targets, and statements about Alcoa’s strategies, objectives, goals, targets, outlook, and business and financial prospects. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results, performance, or outcomes may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by those forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: (a) material adverse changes in aluminum industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and fluctuations in London Metal Exchange-based prices for primary aluminum, alumina and other products; (b) unfavorable changes in general business and economic conditions, in the global financial markets, or in the markets served by Alcoa, including automotive and commercial transportation, aerospace, building and construction, distribution, packaging, and industrial gas turbine; (c) the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on costs and results, particularly the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Canadian dollar and Euro; (d) increases in energy costs, including electricity, natural gas and fuel oil, or the unavailability or interruption of energy supplies; (e) increases in the costs of other raw materials, including caustic soda or carbon products; (f) Alcoa’s inability to achieve the level of cash generation, cost savings, improvement in profitability and margins, or strengthening of operations anticipated from its cash sustainability, productivity improvement and other initiatives; (g) Alcoa’s inability to realize expected benefits from newly constructed, expanded or acquired facilities or from international joint ventures as planned and by targeted completion dates, including the joint venture in Saudi Arabia or the upstream operations in Brazil; (h) political, economic and regulatory risks in the countries in which Alcoa operates or sells products, including unfavorable changes in laws and governmental policies; (i) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government investigations and environmental remediation; (j) the outcome of negotiations with, and the business or financial condition of, key customers, suppliers and business partners; (k) changes in tax rates or benefits; and (l) the other risk factors summarized in Alcoa’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Alcoa disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Glastonbury cider brand Brothers is launching an apple cider to join its pear and flavoured cider ranges.

Brothers Bittersweet Apple Cider is a 5.5% abv medium dry cider which is high in tannins but low in acidity. It will come in 500ml bottles and 250ml stubbies.

It is the first purely apple cider that the company has launched and is a response to the maturation of the apple cider sector where consumers are becoming more educated and are actively seeking out new flavour profiles and propositions, managing director Matthew Showering said.

“Brothers Cider is a natural innovator, being the first to market with both pear and flavoured ciders,” he told the Morning Advertiser. “The apple cider category has lacked significant innovation for some time and we felt it was time to take our fast growing brand and inject some excitement into the marketplace.”

The company is doubling its marketing support for the brand this year, spending £2.75m on a TV advertising campaign, sponsorship of the O2 Arena and music events.

Sales increased 77% in the year to February 2010, Showering said.

Coronation Street fans will be celebrating 50 years of the show this year with a Coronation Street Ale from Manchester-brewer JW Lees, a pie from northern pie maker Holland’s and Imperial Leather soap.

The ITV soap opera has launched a tie-up with great British brands as part of its golden anniversary year. Others involved include Warburtons bread and Typhoo tea. All the classic brands will be involved in a series of events during 2010, with the launch event taking place today (11 February) at the “Replica Rovers” pub at Granada’s studios.

JW Lees unveiled its Coronation Street Ale last May, after signing a five-year deal with ITV to produce a bitter to tie-in with celebrations.

It comes on draught and in bottles and has been brewed to appeal to younger drinkers and a wider range of drinkers than just cask ale fans.

Remy Cointreau’s Piper Heidsieck champagne is to cut 45 jobs as it moves away from private label business.

This is a quarter of Piper’s 160 employees.

Chris Mason, MD of Remy Cointreau’s UK distributor First Drinks, told Drinks International: “As far as I’m aware, this is part of the company’s evolving new strategy to focus its efforts on the brands Piper and Charles Heidsieck.

“It (Remy Cointreau) had significant business in private label champagne, including airline pouring business. As I understand it, this is where the job losses will occur.”

Mason said the jobs would go in Reims, France, as various contracts come to an end.

He said Remy has no plans to discount the brand in order to shift volume.

“In the UK I can tell you that we are investing heavily in both brands with various sponsorship packages and Charles Heidsieck will be aimed at high end Horeca (hotel, restaurant and catering sector).”

Stella Artois is coming home. The world-famous lager is to be produced at the giant Anheuser-Busch Inbev brewery in Samlesbury after a two-year absence.

The kegging line is running again after being mothballed and 24 workers have been taken on to man it.

The Evening Post can reveal that Budweiser may also be kegged in Lancashire next year when Anheuser-Busch shuts down another brewery next year.

Barrels will now be filled with Stella Artois for pubs across the country during the 10-week trial period.

It is hoped it will become permanent if the trial is a success.

GMB senior steward Alan McVann said: “The workers at Samlesbury have had a painful few years with job losses and it has hurt but now we are seeing some good news.

“About half of the workers who are coming back in temporary jobs are former employees who left as part of the previous round of redundancies.

“Initially it is going to be a trial for 10 weeks to see if the volumes are there but by the time that is over we will be into Easter and then we have a World Cup this summer, which usually increases people’s drinking.

“If things go to a 24/7 operation we could be looking at nearer 50 jobs but we are just glad to be back kegging.”

The kegging line at the brewery on Cuerdale Lane, Samlesbury, was mothballed by AB-Inbev two years ago as sales plunged with pubs and clubs forced to shut by the impact of the smoking ban.

It shifted kegging to its Wellpark brewery in Glasgow and Magor in South Wales but sold the Scottish site to C&C Group, the Irish brewers of Magners cider and Tennents lager, in August.

AB-Inbev decided to re-open the Samlesbury line which had previously focused on producing bottles and cans of beer to relieve pressure on the Welsh site.

It has also announced it plans to shut The Stag Brewery in London by 2011 meaning production of Budweiser could also shift to Lancashire.

An AB-Inbev spokesman said it could not comment on its plans for its lines at the site on Cuerdale Lane, saying: “We keep all our operations under review.”

The brewing giant ‘retired’ its Castlemaine XXXX brand, which was canned at Samlesbury, in June to focus on Stella, Budweiser and Beck’s.

It laid off 78 workers and announced last month a further 800 jobs would go across its European operations – but said they would not impact unionised workers at Samlesbury.

Sai Gon Alcohol Beer and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco), leading brewer in Vietnam, expects an increase in domestic demand for beer in this year, it is reported on Wednesday. Sabeco anticipates Vietnamese brewers to produce about 2.7 bln litres of beer in 2010 to meet rising demands of local consumers. Sabeco, which owns approximately 35% nationalwide market share, further projects that consumption of beer in Vietnam would have a growth rate of about 15% this year and in the next few years.

 However, the brewer also warned that the next three years might become difficult for Vietnamese brewers as special consumption tax on beers, excluding draught beer, would decline from 75% to 45%, while tax on draught beer would rise from currently 40% to 45%. This might enable foreign beer producers to enlarge their market share in Vietnam with high-quality beer products, Sabeco thinks.

Currently local beer producers still concentrate mainly on the draught beer market.

The domestic beer market has an annual growth rate of between 9% and 11% The country has more than 300 beer and alcohol production facilities, with key producers including Sabeco and Viet Nam Brewery Limited Co. Sabeco has targeted to produce 1 billion litres of beer in 2010, compared with last year’s 907 million litres.

Source: Global Malt

Heineken said Monday that it would buy the beer operations of Femsa, one of the biggest brewers in Mexico, in an all-share transaction that values the business at $7.6 billion. The move further consolidates the beer industry into a few global players.

The move will make Heineken a “more competitive player in Latin America, one of the world’s most profitable and fastest-growing beer markets,” the chairman and chief executive of Heineken, Jean-François van Boxmeer, said in a statement.

The deal by the Netherlands-based Heineken follows a sales process by Femsa, formally known as Fomento Económico Mexicano S.A.B., that has lasted months.

Many analysts had expected SABMiller to prevail in the race for Femsa, whose beer brands include Dos Equis and Tecate, but it dropped out in recent weeks, people briefed on the matter said Sunday.

“It’s a transformational deal for Heineken,” said Marco Gulpers, beverage analyst at ING. “We were expecting a deal north of $10 billion dollars. The way they structured it, this is creating more value.”

Heineken will issue 86 million new shares to finance the deal, the first time it has done so for a takeover since 1968. Heineken shares were up €1.31, or 3.96 percent, to €34.23 in late morning trading.

After the deal closes, Femsa is to hold 20 percent of Heineken Group – making it the one of the largest shareholders in the Dutch brewer – and have the right to appoint two nonexecutive directors. The transaction is expected be completed in the second quarter of 2010.

Femsa’s other holdings include a majority stake in the largest bottler of Coca-Cola in Latin America and in OXXO, a large convenience store chain in Latin America.

Over the last decade, companies in the beer industry have combined rapidly.

The most notable deals included the 2002 sale of Miller Brewing of the United States to South African Breweries for $3.6 billion and the 2008 acquisition of the American brewer Anheuser-Busch by InBev for $52 billion. Heineken struck a major deal in 2008 by buying Scottish & Newcastle, the largest British brewer, in a joint deal with Carlsberg valued at $15 billion.

Against the backdrop of “the reconfiguration of the global brewing landscape, scale and geographic diversification are more important than ever,” José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, chairman and chief executive of Femsa, said in a statement Monday.

Besides giving Heineken a bigger foothold in Latin America, especially the highly profitable Mexican market, the deal with Femsa also offers Heineken the 83 percent of Femsa’s Brazilian beer business that the Dutch company does not already own. The two beverage companies already share ties in other areas: Heineken distributes Dos Equis and other Femsa products in the United States.

Femsa’s share of the Mexican beer market is 43 percent, and 9 percent in Brazil.

For Femsa, merging with Heineken could help bolster its competitive position, especially as it continues to battle its larger Mexican rival, Grupo Modelo, in which AB InBev has a noncontrolling 50 percent stake. AB InBev is also strongly positioned in Brazil.

About a quarter of Femsa’s revenue in 2008 of 168 billion Mexican pesos, or about $13.3 billion, came from its beer operations. The company posted about $1.6 billion in operating profit that year.

Heineken said in its statement that it expected the transaction would provide cost savings of €150 million, or $218 million, per year, within three years.

De la Merced reported from New York. Andrew Ross Sorkin contributed reporting.

Miguel Torres Jr of the Torres family in Spain has been appointed executive president of the company’s Chilean subsidiary, based in Curicó.

He recently moved to the region, where his key objectives will be to increase sales in export markets including the UK, implement organic viticulture and develop new wines from Empedrado, a new winemaking region south of Concepción.

Torres, a fifth generation winemaker, said: “My family and I are delighted to move to Chile and embark upon a new personal and professional chapter in Curicó. We are lucky to have a great team behind us at Viña Miguel Torres which undoubtedly still have a lot of potential for growth, particularly in export markets”.

Torres Jr. will head up the new operational structure heading Sociedad Vinícola Miguel Torres S.A which will ensure that its premium wines achieve good penetration and consolidation both in Chile and abroad.  It will also continue to work on and encourage responsibility in environmental policy and producing organic wines.

During the past five years he has been the marketing director of Bodegas Torres in Spain.

Foster’s Group could lose its licence to produce and distribute the Stella Artois beer brand in Australia. According to reposrts circulating in the Australian press – Anheuser-Busch InBev may give the licence to Lion Nathan when it expires, as it has already been granted the licence for the Budweiser brands in Australia and New Zealand.

Foster’s is also believed to be in danger of losing the licence for Grupo Modelo’s Corona brand. Lion Nathan already holds the Corona licence in New Zealand.

Ball Corporation  announced today that Michael L. Hranicka has been named president, metal beverage packaging, Americas. Hranicka joined Ball in 2005 as vice president, sales and marketing for Ball’s metal food packaging business. In 2007 he became senior vice president, sales and marketing for Ball’s expanded metal food and household packaging products division, Americas, and in 2009 was named executive vice president and chief operating officer, metal beverage packaging, North America. Hranicka reports to Raymond J. Seabrook, Ball’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, global packaging.

“Michael Hranicka has been effective in guiding the ongoing integration of the metal beverage packaging plants Ball recently acquired from AB InBev and in working with his team to get closer to our customers and to instill a disciplined, process-oriented approach within the business,” Seabrook said. “As president, he will expand that approach in our metal beverage packaging operations in the United States, Canada and Brazil.”

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2008 sales of approximately $7.6 billion. For the latest Ball news and for other company information,

Canopy Management, the Napa Valley wine brand creation, sales and marketing company announced three new team members.  Mr. Mack Hoehner and Ms. Kelly Howell joined the company in sales, both with the title of Vice President/Partner.  Ms. Mary Ann Vangrin has been named Partner/Director of Communications and Social Media.  Canopy Management was founded in 2008 by industry veterans Terry Wheatley and Brian Wurtz who are Chief Marketing Officer/Partner and President/Partner, respectively.  

An innovative wine company pioneering the use of social media to develop wine brands with direct input from the consumer, Canopy’s mission is to break down walls between the marketers and marketplace.  The portfolio is currently distributed in 38 states and broke the 120K case shipment mark in 2009.  Wines include Middle Sister, pro-mis-Q-ous, Monogamy, Purple Cowboy, Kate & Cassie, Deep Purple, Little Chica, Good Daughter and Cocca di Papa and are all under $15. Canopy headquarters is located in a Craftsman-style bungalow in downtown Napa called “The Clubhouse.”

“We all report to the consumer,” comments Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Terry Wheatley.

Mack Hoehner comes to Canopy Management from Foster’s Wine Estates where he ran sales as Vice President, Southwest Zone.  Kelly Howell also comes from Foster’s where her most recent position was Vice President, On-Premise National Accounts.

Mr. Hoehner has extensive experience working with distributors and customers at Rosemount Estates, Southcorp, and Foster’s.  He has strategic responsibility in the Central, Southwest, and Southeast geographies.

Ms. Howell comes to Canopy with over 15 years in the beverage alcohol, managing sales teams, distributors, and National Accounts.  She is working in tandem with Mr. Hoehner to execute upcoming plans to grow Canopy business in the Central, Southwest, and Southeast.

Most recently Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Goelet Wine Estates/Clos Du Val Winery, Ms. Vangrin has held communications and public relations positions at Trinchero Family Estates, Robert Mondavi Winery, Domaine Chandon and G.L. Mezzetta.  She will be responsible for corporate and brand communications and developing the social media marketing strategy and execution for the Canopy portfolio.

Internationally known winemaker Joel Aiken has left the position of vice president of winemaking at Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) in Napa Valley to begin working as a consulting winemaker.

Aiken developed an interest in winemaking as an undergraduate at UC Davis, where he earned his Masters of Science degree in Enology. Upon finishing his studies at Davis in 1982, he was named BV’s Assistant Winemaker, and progressed up through the organization as Winemaker, Director of Winemaking and finally as VP of Winemaking, a position he held from 1999-2009.

Aiken earned a reputation as an innovator as well as an expert on barrel production and Cabernet Sauvignon clonal selection and use.

Aiken says, “BV has been a wonderful place to work, and I have enjoyed the opportunity to learn from both André Tchelistcheff and Michel Rolland. My desire now is to take my experience and use it to help clients create wines utilizing the best of traditional winemaking techniques as well as the latest innovations.”

Aiken will continue to consult with BV on the Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon label.

He most recently oversaw the design and construction of the new Georges de Latour Reserve Winery in 2008.

Rexam PLC, the global consumer packaging company, confirms that, following the announcement of 13 November 2009, Graham Chipchase assumed the role of Chief Executive on 1 January 2010.

Luanda, Angola, 23 Dec – Sab Miller Angola plans to invest US$120 million in a tin can factory that is due to start operating in October, 2010, in Viana municipality, Luanda province.

The chairman of the company’s board, Samuel Jerónimo said that Sab Miller Angola currently imports 18,000 containers, 35 percent of which of tin cans, 30 percent of various products and 35 percent of sugar, which represents some 48,000 tonnes.

Jerónimo said that he hoped, as of 2012, with the start of a sugar production Project in Angola, in Malanje province, to acquire the product locally.

Sab Miller Angola produces and represents products such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, Cuca, N’gola, Peroni and Castle Lager beers.

PepsiCo International has chosen to install technology from Orion Systems Inc. at its Nanchang, China, and Santiago, Chile, facilities — projects that will reduce energy waste and associated energy costs.

The projects are the first for Orion in China and Chile. In addition to the approximately 130 Pepsi facilities in North America that Orion has completed, Orion has installed its technology in a Pepsi foods group facility in Curitiba, Brazil.

Klaus Pilz of Orion’s business development group, said the projects were spurred by Pepsi’s environmental sustainability initiative that includes reducing its water consumption, utilizing sustainable packaging, and decreasing its energy consumption worldwide.

“The decision by Pepsi to deploy our energy-saving technology at its China and Chile facilities validates its superior performance and Pepsi’s commitment to improving the environment worldwide,” said Orion’s CEO Neal Verfuerth. “After having completed more than 130 facilities in the United States, their decision to install our technology abroad confirms Pepsi’s confidence in our technology and services.”

At both facilities, Orion is installing its high-intensity fluorescent, Compact Modular(TM) lighting technology, which is designed to reduce energy waste by 50 percent while providing 50 percent more light than traditional, high-intensity discharge, or HID, lighting.

A field test at the Nanchang, China site verified that Orion’s technology delivers increased lighting and decreased operating costs when compared to high-intensity discharge lighting.

Had the facility chosen HID lighting, the bottling plant would have wasted approximately 202,000 kilowatt-hours a year.

As a result of the energy savings, the Pepsi facility will keep more than 2,650 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere during the life of the technology. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the carbon dioxide savings is the air-scrubbing equivalent of a 37-acre forest or removing 33 cars from the road. The savings also is the equivalent of saving 16,675 gallons of gasoline a year.

The greenhouse gas reductions at the Pepsi facility reflect Chinese President Hu Jintao’s comments at a United Nations summit in late September where he said China is proactive in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In the speech, called the first U.N. speech on climate change by a Chinese leader, Hu pledged to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a “notable margin” to improve the environment worldwide.

China and the United States are the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

In Santiago, Chile, Orion’s technology is expected to reduce the facility’s lighting-related energy consumption and costs by approximately 68 percent.

As a result of installing the energy-saving technologies, the facility will decrease its electricity consumption by 228,720 kilowatt-hours, from nearly 335,000 kilowatt-hours to about 106,000 kilowatt-hours.

The reduction in electricity use means the facility will help curb carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3,000 tons over the life of Orion’s technology, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the retrofit will help keep more than 12 tons of sulfur dioxide and nearly 41/2 tons of nitrogen oxides from entering the atmosphere.

The greenhouse gas reductions are the air-scrubbing equivalent of a 42-acre forest or removing 37 cars from the road, according to the EPA. The reduction also is the environmental equivalent of saving about 19,000 gallons of gasoline a year.

Orion’s technology has reduced Pepsi’s overall energy consumption by more than 74.2 million kilowatt-hours, reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 48,700 tons, according to the EPA. That’s the air-scrubbing equivalent of a 13,600-acre forest or like removing more than 12,000 cars from the road.

Orion has deployed its energy management systems in 5,082 facilities across North America. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced more than 477 megawatts, saving customers more than $710 million and reducing indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 6.1 million tons.

Two US senators have announced new legislation banning the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from beverage containers used by children, babies and pregnant women.

Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand said the legislation was influenced by a recent study that showed the chemical is being used in a wide range of food and beverage packaging and is detrimental to health.

According to the Epoch Times, Mr Schumer said: “This study adds to the mounting evidence that BPA is not only harmful for our children but for an overwhelming majority of Americans.”

He added that there have been “enough warning signs about the dangers of this chemical” and said he felt he could not allow people to be exposed to it any longer.

“We need to keep this dangerous chemical out of the food chain,” he said.

BPA used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resin and its use in baby bottles is already prohibited in Canada and Europe.

Canadian Clear Water FZC, Internationally acclaimed water technology solution provider, has set up 20 Million USD desalination plants in Egypt, Oman & Iraq to serve to meet the growing demand for potable water in respective countries.

The desalination plant working on cutting edge technology of Reverse Osmosis converts sea water into potable water useful for industrial and drinking water purposes. Biggest of its kind, the plants can meet the requirements of the local community.

The desalination plant installed at Egypt can convert 10 MLD (Million Litre per Day) and can convert seawater into potable water skid mounted for industrial and drinking water purpose. Desalination plant at Iraq was set up as per the Government’s requirement and is capable of converting 20 MLD. Installed midst of desert, 3 MLD containerized plant set up by Canadian Clear for Oman defense force is constructed in 3 pass desalination system. The plant converts the water from the desert into potable water for construction and drinking.

Providing totally integrated solution for desalination, the plant was designed, manufactured, supplied, constructed and commissioned on a turnkey basis in a record time. The operation and maintenance of the plant will be carried out by Shivsu Canadian Clear International Limited, parent company of Canadian Clear Water FZC.

Canadian Clear also specializes in containerized brackish water and sea water plants keeping in focus space availability, mass consumption, relief agencies, war time army requirements, make shift facilities, as well as sea side resorts. Such units also find use in off-shore oil rigs.

Canadian Clear Water FZC is one of the leading manufacturers of Water, Waste Water Treatment and Desalination Technologies since 1972, with 4 decades of experience in the field of Water Treatment. ISO 9001-2000 TUV certified, the company is also into Effluent Treatment Plant; Sewage Treatment Plant, Desalination Plant (Containerized & Skid Mounted), Mineral Water Processing Machines, Bottling Machines and Pet Stretch Blow Moulding Machines.

The company has successfully supplied for more than 5000 Projects of various sizes throughout the World. With offices in Canada, USA, Kenya, Nigeria, India, UAE and Channel Partners worldwide, it has installed compact and sturdy skid-mounted onsite plants globally. Also, the company has expertise in installing zero discharge plants, effluent treatment plants and process water treatment units.

Tetra Pak, a packaging and processing firm operating in more than 150 markets worldwide, has signed a deal with Braskem SA to buy high-density polyethylene (HDPE) derived entirely from renewable feedstock.

The agreement with the largest Brazilian petrochemical company is the first move toward using green polyethylene n the carton packaging industry, the firms say.

According to Braskem, the world’s first commercial-scale green polyethylene plant will make its first deliveries to Tetra Pak in early 2011.

The carton packaging will be made from ethanol derived from sugar cane, a process which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to the traditional process.

“While this pilot project is a small first step into green polyethylene, it marks another milestone in our sustainability journey … and underscores our commitment
to finding new ways to use renewable materials in our carton packaging,” said Tetra Pak president and chief executive officer Dennis Jonsson.

Heineken, a Dutch beer company, has begun the licensed production of Zlaty Bazant, a Slovakian beer, in Belarus,

The company said that it has already obtained the required approvals from Heineken International and will start the licensed production of Zlaty Bazant at the Syabar unit in Bobruisk. The company owns two brewing companies in Belarus. They are Izao Syabar and OJSC Rechitsapivo, which it acquired in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

According to the company, the beer is the third brand, which it produced under license in Belarus. It is after the production of Doctor Diesel and Gosser brands that the company has embarked on the production of Slovakian beer. In Heineken’s brand portfolio in Belarus, the licensed brands account for 10% of the total portfolio.

Natalia Litvinova, marketing director of Heineken Belarus, said that the company has intentions to increase the share of its licensed brands.

The company is also planning to launch a promotional campaign of Zlaty Bazant brand on televisions and retail outlets, in Belarus, in the beginning of 2010. The brand is going to be presented in the segment of HoReCa where it is available the form of bottled and also draft beer.