Particle characterization and rheology company Malvern Instruments Ltd. entered into a distribution partnership with Parsum GmbH of Germany. The agreement provides Malvern with worldwide distribution rights for Parsum in-line particle measurement systems and give Malvern exclusivity in all areas except German, where the products will be available from both companies. Parsum systems are robust industrial instruments designed to make particle size and velocity measurements in dry powders, directly in the process line. With measurement range from 50 to 2,500 µm, they complement Malvern's Insitec range of online particle size analyzers.

The Alloy Engineering Co. of Berea, Ohio, announces the appointment of Steve Hulvey as sales engineer with account responsibility for Ohio, Michigan, western West Virginia, and the Ohio-river area of Kentucky. Hulvey will work with customers in applying the company's line of high-temperature and corrosion-resistant alloy components in applications such as heating, sintering, and brazing.

In early March, Dalmacijacement-RMC singed a contract with FLSmidth Automation for the first step of Control System Modernization in one of its three plants in the Dalmacija Region of Croatia. The company, Croatia's largest cement producer with an annual capacity of 2.2 million mtpy, operates in three factories. The order comprises FLSmidth Automation's ECS control system with ECS/PlantGuide (MIS), as well as PLC, MCC, and Power systems for three departments in the Sv. Juraj Plant. FLSmidth Automation also will be responsible for installation, commissioning, and training the Croatian personnel. The system will be put in operation during the shutdown period of 35 days in January and February 2005.

Norristown, Pa.-based Philadelphia Gear Corp., a provider of gearing and power transmission solutions, announced the promotion of Richard Chrzanowski to General Manager for the company's Eastern Region Service Center in New Castle, Del. Chrzanowski will oversee the implementation of the company's aftermarket suite of services for its customer base, extending from Maine to North Carolina.