Industry News

Chart Industries Sale Approved to Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes and Chart Industries announced they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Baker Hughes will acquire all outstanding shares of Chart’s common stock for $210 per share in cash, equivalent to a total enterprise value of $13.6 billion.

Chart is a design, engineering and manufacturer of process technologies and equipment for gas and liquid molecule handling across a broad range of industrial and energy end markets. Its products and solutions are used in every phase of the liquid gas supply chain, from engineering and design to installation, preventative maintenance to repair and service, as well as ongoing digital monitoring. Chart generated $4.2 billion in revenue and $1.0 billion adjusted EBITDA in 2024. It operates 65 manufacturing locations with over 50 service centers globally.

Baker Hughes has also completed its all-cash, $540 million acquisition of Continental Disc Corporation (CDC) from investment partnerships managed by Tinicum Incorporated.

The transaction brings a complementary portfolio of products to Baker Hughes’ existing valves product line, expanding the company’s addressable market in the flow control market with the addition of CDC’s well-established critical pressure management solutions.

Flowserve Divests Legacy Asbestos Liabilities

Flowserve Corporation, a provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, has reached an agreement to divest BW/IP - New Mexico, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the company that holds asbestos liabilities and related insurance assets, to an affiliate of Acorn Investment Partners, a portfolio company of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management L.P.

Under the terms of the agreement, Acorn will assume full responsibility for BW/IP and its administration and resolution of all current and future asbestos-related claims associated with the acquired liabilities. As a result of the transaction, Flowserve will permanently divest these liabilities, enabling the company to simplify its capital structure and focus its future capital allocation toward value-enhancing opportunities.

At closing, Flowserve will have no further financial exposure to the transferred liabilities, which will be fully managed and administered by Acorn, and for which Flowserve will be fully indemnified.
 

Trane Unveils Reference Design

Trane Technologies announced the launch of the industry’s first comprehensive thermal management system reference design, specifically engineered for the NVIDIA Omniverse DSX Blueprint for gigawatt-scale AI data centers. This solution sets new standards for performance, scalability and rapid deployment, supporting the most demanding AI factories, including gigawatt-scale factories powered by the latest NVIDIA AI infrastructure.

The new Trane Technologies thermal management system reference design delivers mission-critical temperature control, enabling data center operators to simultaneously manage power, water and land resources, allowing for continuously optimized performance, energy efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, it supports the advanced power and cooling needs of NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance for Blackwell and next-generation NVIDIA Vera Rubin systems. As rack density increases per NVIDIA’s roadmap, Trane Technologies’ gigawatt-scale design can flexibly scale to efficiently meet these demanding applications, optimizing compute power.

The reference design integrates the NVIDIA Omniverse DSX Blueprint for AI Factory Digital Twins. This allows project developers to aggregate 3D data from disparate sources with OpenUSD, helping engineers to address the complex challenges of designing, simulating and deploying gigawatt scale AI 

EPA Proposes Revisions to TSCA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule to revise the process for conducting risk evaluations for chemicals already in commerce under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The proposed amendments would ensure that EPA can more efficiently and effectively protect human health and the environment and follow the law while responding to public comments and concerns, including from other Federal agencies, on the current Framework Rule.  

“The American public and the businesses that drive our nation’s great economy need to have confidence in the safety of chemicals reviewed by EPA. That’s why today’s proposal lays out a clear, predictable, commonsense approach that’s grounded in the law and the science,” says EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “This work is yet another example of how we can and will protect human health and the environment while allowing manufacturing and industrial sectors to thrive.”  

On March 10, 2025, EPA announced its intent to reconsider this rule consistent with Executive Order 14219 requiring the review of regulations to ensure consistency with Administration policy and agencies’ statutory authority. The proposed amendments support Administrator Zeldin’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” by ensuring chemicals that are already in the marketplace are reviewed in a way that adheres to Congress’s intent for the law, uses the best available science and provides certainty for the regulated community.  

Competitions Launch for Fouling and Corrosion

HeroX, a platform and open marketplace for crowdsourced solutions, has announced the launch of two competitions — The Electrode Code and The Emerson License to Flow Challenge — on behalf of Emerson, a worldwide leader in automation technology and industrial innovation. Both challenges invite engineers, materials scientists and inventive thinkers to develop next-generation solutions that enhance the reliability, accuracy and lifespan of flow measurement systems used in vital industrial processes.

Across sectors such as oil and gas, water management and chemical processing, measurement precision is critical to performance and safety. Yet two key pain points persist: electrode fouling in electromagnetic flowmeters and acid corrosion in Coriolis flowmeters. These challenges can degrade accuracy, increase maintenance costs and reduce operational uptime — creating costly inefficiencies for industries that rely on continuous flow monitoring.

“Innovation thrives when we open the door to collaboration,” says an Emerson spokesperson. “By engaging global problem-solvers through HeroX, we’re accelerating new ideas that can transform how flow measurement technologies perform in the toughest industrial environments.”

The Electrode Code: This challenge calls on engineers and innovators to design durable, conductive, PFAS-free solutions that prevent or remove fouling in electromagnetic flowmeter electrodes. In harsh industrial environments, coatings like paraffin, scale and abrasive particulates cause false readings and costly maintenance. Competitors must develop materials or self-cleaning mechanisms that preserve signal integrity under extreme temperatures, pressures and chemical exposure while meeting REACH and RoHS standards. Solutions should be cost-effective, wear-resistant and compatible with existing systems to extend accuracy and uptime.

The Emerson License to Flow Challenge: This challenge invites innovators to create robust, compliant and cost-effective linings or coatings that protect Coriolis flowmeters from acid corrosion and mechanical wear. Substances like sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide can erode stainless-steel flow paths, degrading accuracy and increasing downtime. Competitors must deliver materials or application methods that offer uniform, long-lasting protection under pressure and temperature extremes, preventing delamination and pitting without affecting performance. Solutions must meet REACH and RoHS standards, minimize PFAS, and demonstrate durability, adhesion and adaptability across complex geometries.

The Prize: A total prize purse of $60,000 ($30,000 for Electrode Code and $30,000 for License to Flow: Shaken Not Pitted) will be awarded across both challenges to top-performing teams whose submissions demonstrate exceptional innovation, technical merit and real-world feasibility. Winning solvers will have the opportunity to partner with Emerson beyond the challenges, collaborating on development, testing and go-to-market opportunities.

The companies welcome entries from both established experts and unconventional innovators. Teams may represent universities, startups, corporations or independent inventors, provided they comply with all applicable U.S. regulations and international competition laws.

Learn more and sign up at:

Electrode Code: https://www.herox.com/ElectrodeCode

The Emerson License to Flow Challenge: https://www.herox.com/LicenseToFlow

U.S. DOE Selects Companies for Advanced Nuclear Projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced another step forward to strengthen domestic supply chains for nuclear fuel. DOE selected Oklo Inc., Terrestrial Energy Inc., TRISO-X LLC, and Valar Atomics Inc. for its new pilot program to build advanced nuclear fuel lines. This action will help strengthen America’s national security, reduce reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium and support the Department’s Reactor Pilot Program that aims to have at least three reactors achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.

Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly said: “Restoring a secure domestic fuel supply will ensure that advanced reactors can move quickly from design to deployment and into operation. The ability to produce these fuels is essential to ensuring American leadership in nuclear energy and to meeting the nation’s growing demand for reliable power.”

This is the second round of conditional selections under DOE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program. DOE previously selected Standard Nuclear to build and operate TRISO fuel fabrication facilities. The following projects will leverage the Department’s authorization process to ensure a robust supply of fuel is available for research, development and demonstration purposes — including the 11 reactors initially selected to participate in DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program.

Each company will be responsible for all costs associated with the construction, operation and decommissioning of their fuel fabrication facilities, and must manage the sourcing of nuclear material feedstock. 

UL Solutions Launches New Certification

UL Solutions Inc., a global leader in applied safety science, announced its new ECOLOGO certification program for energy and industrial automation equipment, such as circuit breakers and safety switches, that helps manufacturers advance the sustainability of industrial equipment and meet stakeholder demands.

UL Solutions’ Ecologo Certification is a voluntary, multi-attribute, life cycle-based ecolabel certification that evaluates products and processes for reduced environmental and human health impacts. Ecologo is well-known across various types of consumer products, and this new certification for energy and industrial automation equipment is designed to help manufacturers demonstrate their commitment to sustainability through third-party evaluation according to UL 2711, the Standard for Sustainability of Energy and Industrial Automation Equipment.

The Ecologo certification program evaluates products against a comprehensive set of criteria, including: materials used; manufacturing processes; health and safety and product life cycle.

The new certification for industrial products complements existing Ecologo programs across sectors such as cleaning products, electronics, personal care and mineral exploration. Ecologo is one of North America’s most respected, longest-running and established multi-attribute ecolabel certification programs, part of the Global Ecolabelling Network’s (GEN) GENICES system, classified as an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Type 1 ecolabel, and has been assessed by the Global Ecolabeling Network. UL Solutions’ Ecologo certification is recognized by governments, retailers and procurement programs worldwide, offering companies a competitive edge in environmentally conscious markets.

BWXT and Rolls-Royce Sign MoU for SMR

BWX Technologies, Inc. announced a nuclear steam generator detailed design contract and a Memorandum of Understanding with Rolls-Royce SMR to support future collaboration on the development of the Rolls-Royce SMR.

BWXT subsidiary BWXT Canada Ltd. has been producing high-quality steam generators for the nuclear energy industry for more than 60 years and has shipped more than 315 steam generators to plant locations worldwide. The Rolls-Royce SMR is a pressurized water reactor capable of producing 470 MW. Each reactor utilizes three steam generators.

Key elements of the MoU are Rolls-Royce SMR’s readiness to procure steam generators for multiple reactor units from BWXT and the development of a localization plan for future manufacturing work and other activities, if necessary, to support the Rolls-Royce SMR deployment in the global market.

Rolls-Royce SMR is the only company with multiple SMR commitments in Europe, having been selected as preferred bidder in the Great British Energy — Nuclear SMR competition, and by European utility, CEZ, to build up to three gigawatts of new nuclear power in the Czech Republic.

BWXT announced last year a $80 million Canadian dollar expansion of its Cambridge, Ontario, manufacturing facility which will significantly increase capacity, improve productivity and create more than 200 long-term jobs for skilled workers, engineers and support staff in the area.

Prometheus Powers AI With Fuel Made From Air

Prometheus Fuels recently unveiled a world-first demonstration: powering artificial intelligence (AI) entirely with fuel made from air and renewable electricity. In the demo video, which can be viewed on the company’s website, the team used e-fuel made at its pilot facility from air and solar electricity to power locally installed AI, fully off-grid and carbon-neutral.

AI is now the fastest-growing power demand in the world. According to the International Energy Agency, electricity demand from data centers is projected to more than double by 2030, with consumption rising at approximately 15% annually, more than four times the pace of overall electricity demand growth globally. Data centers are waiting years for new grid interconnections, utilities are warning of rising electricity costs and the gap between supply and demand is widening every quarter.

“We’re offering a new source of power for AI,” says Rob McGinnis, founder and CEO of Prometheus. “We can turn the cheapest electricity in the world — solar power in the best locations — into 24/7 low-cost baseload power anywhere it’s needed.”

Prometheus’ approach bypasses bottlenecks found in other power supplies such as grid connections and lack of energy storage. By combining low-cost solar electricity with CO₂ captured directly from air, Prometheus produces liquid e-fuels that can be transported anywhere, stored on-site, and used in existing turbines and generators for high reliability and 24/7 carbon-neutral power, without the need for a grid connection. Prometheus e-fuels cost less than fossil fuels, an important consideration for such energy-intensive facilities. Meanwhile, existing data centers that currently run on natural gas can be retrofitted to switch to Prometheus e-fuels.

Prometheus fuel production is in operation today. The company’s commercial pilot facility is currently making solar e-methanol with full-scale components. Unlike grid-based solutions, Prometheus projects can be built and running at the gigawatt scale in less than two years, as they don’t need a grid connection and can be sited in remote locations with streamlined permits.

VMA Chairman Kirk Wilson Announces Retirement

Flowserve Corporation has announced that Alice DeBiasio has joined the company as President of the Flow Control Division, replacing current VMA Chairman Kirk Wilson who is retiring from the company effective January 9, 2026.

DeBiasio is an accomplished leader with extensive experience leading global industrial organizations and driving consistent profitable growth, innovation and customer loyalty. Most recently, DeBiasio served as vice president, general manager at Carrier Corporation, where she led multiple business segments, for the entire Climate Solutions Transportation divisions. Prior to Carrier, she held leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Resideo (formerly Honeywell) and Northrop Grumman, where she focused on product management, software solutions, project management and engineering.

Kirk Wilson, the current president of the Flow Control Division, will remain with Flowserve as a senior advisor through Jan. 9, 2026, to assist with special projects and ensure a smooth transition as DeBiasio enters her new role.

Mueller Water Products Appoints New SVP

Mueller Water Products, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of products and solutions used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America, announced that it has named Darin Harvey as its senior vice president of operations and supply chain. He will report to the company’s president and chief operating officer, Paul McAndrew.

Harvey most recently served as the executive vice president-supply chain at Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a provider of water management solutions, specializing in storm water and onsite septic wastewater systems.