James Construction Group builds new Westlake hydrogen facility

James Construction Group LLC (JCG) is performing the civil and mechanical phase of construction for a new hydrogen facility in Westlake.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc. will own and operate the new facility, with capacity in excess of 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of hydrogen to meet the growing hydrogen requirements of the nearby ConocoPhillips refinery.

Excess hydrogen will be diverted into Air Products' existing hydrogen pipeline networ that serves other refining and chemical facilities in the area.

James Construction Group has completed the civil phase of the project and is currently erecting the steam methane reformer, designed by Technip. Key components to the reformer include the radiant section, convection section, steam drum, process gas boiler area, and the PSA area.

Other ongoing construction activities include the erection of more than 450 tons of structural steel and the installation of more than 45 pieces of equipment, 28,000 linear feet of process piping and 10,000 lin. ft. of radiant tubing.

JCG will also assist with the commissioning of the new plant, which is scheduled for start-up in spring 2004.

James Construction Group, headquartered in Baton Rouge, specializes in heavy, highway, industrial and environmental construction and maintenance services. JCG offices are located throughout the Gulf Coast states.

EMCO brings ComSult on board

Forty-one year old EMCO, one of the area's largest integrated Information Technology (IT) Services providers, announced recently that long-term ally ComSult Inc. joined EMCO.

ComSult brings 12 years experience, specializing in custom software design and development, Business to Business Web Application Development and project management. ComSult has serviced small businesses to Fortune 100 companies in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Under the leadership of Max L. Shaneyfelt, Jr., ComSult rose to become one of the areas most respected and versatile technology companies.

"We are impressed with the strengths, knowledge, and longevity of EMCO," Shaneyfelt said. "We've worked with EMCO side-by-side on many projects over the years, and we can think of no better way to capture the technical and creative synergy of these two companies than this." Shaneyfelt said he and his entire staff are excited about joining the EMCO team and stresses that ComSult's clients will continue to get the same high standard of service that they have come to expect.

Janice Pellar, President of EMCO, echoed Shaneyfelt's confidence. "We're always expanding, looking for new ways and new products to bring technology to the customer. Through our alliance with Max and ComSult over the years, we know they demonstrate with each customer the same intense focus on customer satisfaction and technological excellence as does EMCO. This agreement allows us to expand services to EMCO customers while providing more back office support for the former ComSult customers."

Carlton Jones, EMCO Senior Vice President, said "ComSult will provide particular advantage to EMCO in areas of State and Government contracts for integrated IT service, custom software development, network security, and risk assessments. It also gives more than 100 ComSult customers greater, more expanded service for all communications and IT products and services."

TDI selected for Bossier City, Louisiana Riverwalk Project

Tulsa Dynaspan, Inc. (TDI) will be working on a design build team with Walton Construction of Shreveport, La. to construct a four level parking garage for the new Riverwalk development in Bossier City, La. TDI proposed and will deliver a hybrid post-tensioned frame incorporating plant cast columns, spandrels and beams with site cast post-tensioned concrete decks. The building will house approximately 2,500 cars and is scheduled for completion by Fall 2004.

TDI designs and builds comprehensive parking solutions nationwide. A member of both the International Parking Institute and the National Parking Association, they focus on designing parking facilities that are both functional and cost-effective, using the latest, state-of-the-art technology with special attention to aesthetics which incorporate interesting facades and architectural treatments.

BOMAG Americas acquires Gilcrest's ProPaver Equipment

BOMAG Americas, formerly known as Compaction America, recently announced that it acquired Gilcrest's ProPaver equipment division on December 31, 2003.

"The ProPaver acquisition immediately broadens our product offering for asphalt applications and gives BOMAG a complementary product for its line of compaction equipment," said Mike Simpkins, president of BOMAG Americas Inc. "This product line extension will increase the value of the BOMAG franchise to distributors, while our customers will enjoy the convenience of being able to acquire both pavers and compaction equipment from a single source."

The ProPaver line includes five self-propelled tracked asphalt pavers and four towable wheeled asphalt pavers with application widths from 4 to 15 feet. The product line also includes an asphalt distributor for heating and spraying emulsified asphalt. All products are available immediately, marketed under the "ProPaver by BOMAG" brand name.

ProPaver products will continue to be manufactured at the established Warrensburg, Mo. facility - now designated "BOMAG Paving Products." Dan Taylor, general manager for ProPaver, will head the Warrensburg operations.

"What attracted us to ProPaver was the quality and depth of the product line and the strength of the company behind it," said Simpkins. "Altogether, this acquisition is a nice integral fit with our compaction equipment offering and we are already developing enhancements for this new product line."

Founded in 1971, Gilcrest has been manufacturing pavers and related construction equipment since 1991.

Louisiana ports lead U.S. in total cargo tonnage

Louisiana had America's largest single port and four ports among the top 10 in the latest cargo tonnage report, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said recently.

The Port of South Louisiana was No. 1 again, with 216.4 million tons of total waterborne commerce in 2002.

Houston was second at 177.6 million tons. New York-New Jersey was third at 134.5 million, Beaumont (Texas) fourth at 85.9 million and New Orleans fifth at 85 million.

Total waterborne commerce includes import, export, coastal and inland commerce. The figures are compiled by the Corps' Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center in New Orleans.

In totals by state, Louisiana led with 484.9 million tons in 2002. Texas was second with 442.3 million; California third, 190.1 million; Florida fourth, 122.5 million and Illinois fifth, 120.3 million.

Texas led U.S. export-import tonnage with 325.1 million. Louisiana, benefiting from the Mississippi River's inland waterway system, led domestic traffic at 269.2 million tons.

Louisiana's leading cargoes are bulk products such as grain, chemicals and petroleum. It is led by four ports on the Mississippi River: South Louisiana, based in LaPlace; New Orleans; Baton Rouge, No. 9 and the Port of Plaquemines, No. 10. Lake Charles, La., is No. 16.

Texas ports also include Corpus Christi, ranked 7th; Texas City, 11th; Freeport, 24th, and Port Arthur, 30th. California's ports include Long Beach, No. 8 and Los Angeles, No. 12.