PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Benshaw Inc. has finalized an agreement to acquire Aucom Electronics LTD, a New Zealand based manufacturer of soft starters. The combined organization, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., offers a full range of applied motor control solutions, and is the leading supplier of low and medium voltage soft starters worldwide. Global operations now include facilities in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Middle East and Asia.

LISBON, Portugal - Metso’s valve business, future Neles Corporation, will establish two new service centers in Lisbon, Portugal, and in the Mulhouse area, France, to increase its valves’ service availability and presence close to customers. Service centers offer valve repair services as well as predictive maintenance services, e.g. digitalized process diagnostic services and shutdown planning, to help customers to increase their plant reliability.

ABLAR, Germany - Pfeiffer Vacuum, a global manufacturer of vacuum solutions, announced that the Supervisory Board named Wolfgang Ehrk a member of the Management Board and new Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

As COO, Ehrk will be responsible for the areas of Continuous Improvement, Global Operations, Procurement, Quality and EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) as well as Supply Chain.

The Weir Group today announces changes to its Group Executive including two new appointments that strengthen Weir’s focus on sustainability and technology.

Paula Cousins will become Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer. Garry Fingland will also join the Group Executive as Chief Information Officer with responsibility for Group-wide information and technology systems including the Group’s digital products.

BJERRINGBRO, Denmark - Grundfos has named Markus Brandstetter as its new chief technology officer (CTO). Brandstetter will take up his new position on Feb. 1, 2020, and will relocate to a home near Bjerringbro in the coming months.

An experienced technology leader and champion of digitalization, Brandstetter brings significant experience from senior roles in large industrial companies.