Tag: Chamber of Commerce

AESSEAL partner company, the reliability consultants AVT Reliability Limited® (AVTR), is pleased to announce the receipt of almost $10 million of new orders globally for its Cloud/Internet of Things and Remote Data Centre (RDC) business, collectively branded as Machine Sentry.

This technology allows reliability engineers to collect and monitor data on the health of factory machinery all over the world, in order to ensure reliable performance, avoiding breakdowns and potential environmental accidents. 

The largest contract is for the remote collection and analysis of data on off-shore platforms.  Other significant wins have been in the USA in Pulp and Paper, a UK based water authority and a 24 plant global roll-out in the cement industry.

A recent installation in Togo, Africa at a facility that had never previously engaged in Condition Monitoring demonstrated how quickly a plant can be surveyed, gateways and wireless internet of things Machine Sentry sensors installed and training provided.

Chris Rea Managing Director of AES Engineering Ltd, the holding company of both the AVTR and AESSEAL groups said:  “This technology means that it is both practical and cost effective to deliver a Condition Monitoring solution in Africa within a week and provide professional support in a remote data centre more than 3,000 miles away. This demonstrates that the Fifth Industrial Revolution is a reality”.

The orders coincide with the launch of a new Machine Sentry Fixed Wireless Data Collector, Machine Sentry Fixed 02 (MSF-02), which has dramatically improved performance compared to the original Machine Sentry Fixed Wireless Data Collector launched in 2017.

The original product had a range of 50 feet and maximum of 25 could be connected to a single gateway. MSF 02 has a range of over 300 feet (100 metres) and up to 100 can be connected to a single gateway with almost instantaneous data transfer to The Cloud and Remote Data Centres. The RDCs can either be manned by the user or by the reliability professionals that work for AVTR®.

The company says that the price point for wireless data collection, storage in The Cloud, automated reporting and diagnosis and human analysis, makes the technology both practical and affordable. MSF 02 is being sold at the same price as the original version, which was itself state of the art when brought to market in 2017. 

AES Engineering Ltd, AVTR’s holding company, based in Rotherham South Yorkshire, has produced a kids’ video as part of its outreach programme. The video takes a minute to explain The Internet of Things and The Cloud, an industry sector that they believe is destined to grow massively.

View video.

AESSEAL recently received independent Verification from British Standards (BSI) that its global business operation is now Net Zero Scope 1, 2, and 3.

By investing $40 million in environmentally friendly projects, AESSEAL achieved Net Zero status seven years ahead of its 2029 goal.

Net Scope standards are related to both direct and indirect emissions from the company as well as those linked to its worldwide operations.

Its Rockford, Tenn., location recently purchased Green Energy from TVA and is expected to be self-supporting and require no energy from TVA. Those efforts included the addition of solar panels, battery storage units, tinted windows, and updated LED lighting across the entire facility. In addition to planting trees, employees were educated on the benefits of green energy. Future plans include installing environmental and economically-sound HVAC units. Finally, these endeavors have helped its North American customers offset nearly 375,000 tonnes of C02e.

Additionally, AESSEAL is ahead of its five-year plan to double the size of its North American business and has several open positions.

With the idea that STEM education can shape the future, AESSEAL recognizes the importance of education and equipping future leaders by meeting the demand for STEM-skilled employees. As these fields continue to expand, the number of open positions continues to increase.  

AESSEAL, which employs a variety of positions, including engineers, wants to engage with the school systems to encourage young people to think about engineering as a profession. As such, it created a video that it deployed in the UK.

View video.

Nashville-based developer Ramston Capital will invest between $70-80 million to construct the first mixed-use residential development project in Pellissippi Place, a research and technology-based park, located off Old Knoxville Highway and Pellissippi Parkway in Alcoa, Tenn., the Industrial Development Board of Blount County and the cities of Alcoa and Maryville (IDB) announced today.

“This is a tremendous step in the development of Pellissippi Place which is a collaborative effort of the cities of Alcoa and Maryville, Blount County, and Knox County,” said IDB chair Matt Murray. “These four entities worked together to achieve this special component and it will certainly lead to further development in the park.”

The four-story urban product is projected to be completed in early 2024. The development includes residential living space, retail shops, and restaurants. The design ties into the overall concept of the park which furnishes a place where professionals can live and work while providing nearby access to the Blount County greenway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for leisure activities.

Visit www.PellissippiPlace.com for more information about the park.

People who are 23 years old are now eligible for the Tennessee Reconnect scholarship if they have not previously earned a college degree. This is regardless of their dependency status on federal income tax forms. 

Similar to Tennessee Promise for college freshmen who are coming straight to higher education from high school, Tennessee Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition for adult learners after all state and federal financial aid has been applied. 

“This is wonderful news for our students,” said Leigh Anne Touzeau, assistant vice president for Enrollment Services at Pellissippi State Community College. “Now students who are eager to get started back don’t have to wait until they are 24 – they can get started a whole year sooner.” 

The age change from 24 to 23 years old was part of the HOPE Expansion Bill signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on June 1. The bill also increases the amount students at two-year institutions receive from the HOPE scholarship to $1,600 per semester. 

Lee also signed House Bill 2436/Senate Bill 2631 into law June 1, allowing students who graduate from high school early to be eligible for Tennessee Promise. 

The deadline to apply to Pellissippi State for fall 2022 is Aug. 9. Students who already have applied and been accepted should register now to get the classes they need to move forward on their educational path. Aug. 15 is the deadline for students to confirm their schedules in myPellissippi and pay their fees. Fall classes start Aug. 22. 

Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, announced that Bryan Daniels, president/CEO of the Blount Partnership, was named among North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2022.

The economic development professionals selected for the Consultant Connect North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2022 list were nominated by their colleagues in the economic development industry and the site consultant community for excellent practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve.

“Releasing the Top 50 list is one of Consultant Connect’s favorite times of the year because we are so passionate about recognizing economic development leaders’ transformative work,” said Carla Sones, managing director of Consultant Connect. “This year’s group faced hurdles unlike any other Top 50 group has seen over the past year, and we are honored to provide a platform for them to be recognized for the passionate commitment they’ve made to their communities.”

“My job, my role, why I was hired, was to be … It was to be a catalyst,” Daniels said. “That was the exact word that was used. To be a catalyst in the community to create more opportunities for folks here.”