Belgium-based Hansen Transmissions, a manufacturer of drive systems and part of the Invensys group, announced that it is assuming all sales and marketing of large gear products in North America, effective Dec. 1, 2002. Previously Rexnord Corp. had undertaken this task, however Invensys recently announced the sale of Rexnord to the Carlyle group. Manufacturing, marketing, engineering, and sales employees associated with the Hansen large gear business in the U.S. and Canada will stay with Hansen and continue to work at the North American headquarters in Stuarts Draft, Va. The facilities will continue to handle the Hansen P4 speed reducers, introduced in 1995.

Elko Hoettges was named general sales manager for Beumer Corp.'s Bulk Material Handling Systems product line. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Hoettges in familiar with the material handling requirements of today's cement plant operations.

In January, contracts were signed for the sale of the majority of the shares in PSP Engineering a.s., located in Prerov, Moravia, Czech Republic, and for the assets connected with the business. The purchaser is a sister company of IKN GmbH, located in Neustadt near Hanover, Germany. PSP will obtain title to the assets such as machine shops, patents, trademarks, and technical documentation. In the cement and lime industry, PSP represents the supply of more than 100 kilns. Its reference base covers the production process from primary crushing, pyroprocessing, cement grinding, and packaging, with most of its clients located in Central and Eastern Europe, Italy, South America, and the Near East. The deal is contingent to the clearance by the Czech Office for the Protection of Economic Competition.

Milwaukee-based The Falk Corporation acquired Orange Peel Rotating Shaft Guards of Cedarburg, Wis., to improve Falk's ability to supply complete coupling and drive system solutions. Customers can now buy both the flexible shaft coupling and guard from one source. Falk can now offer a standard Orange Peel guard to complement its coupling lines, while Orange Peel guards also will be used on Falk drive systems.

Stedman formed a new affiliate, Innovative Processing Solutions, LLC, which will provide custom solutions for processing systems. IPS will specialize in enhancing bulk material-handling systems. The new company will use equipment from Stedman and other top manufacturers to create a variety of systems, ranging from single processing stations, bins, and conveyors to complete turnkey systems. The design and project management team will be based in Louisville, Ky.