TOKYO and ZURICH (Dec. 16, 2014) – ABB and Hitachi announced an agreement to form a joint venture for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system solutions in Japan. The new entity, to be based in Tokyo, will be responsible for the design, engineering, supply and after-sales services related to the DC system of HVDC projects, bringing ABB's latest technologies to the Japanese market where Hitachi will be the prime contractor.

ERLANGER, KY (Dec. 12, 2014) – Smith Flow Control (SFC) has added ACE Controls & Equipment Inc to its distributor network in the U.S.

Located in Bakersfield, California, ACE Controls serves the oil, gas, water and processing industries, offering a complete suite of services, including start-up and commissioning, valve actuator adaptation and mounting, certified calibration and repairs.

DES PLAINES, Illinois (11 December 2014)—More than half of Americans support the development of additional infrastructure to expand the use of natural gas in the U.S., according to a poll conducted for Honeywell's UOP business, a supplier of technology and equipment to natural gas producers. An even larger number, three-quarters of respondents, agreed that the development of natural gas is driving economic growth in the U.S., underpinning the support for infrastructure development.

KYOTO, Japan (Dec. 11, 2014) – Nidec Corporation has announced that it has agreed to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Gerate- und Pumpenbau GmbH Dr. Eugen Schmidt (GPM) from its shareholders through Nidec’s subsidiary, Nidec Motors & Actuators (Germany) GmbH (NMA(G)). For this purpose, Nidec entered into a share purchase and transfer agreement with each of GPM's shareholders.