ABB, the global technology company, announced that it has acquired a minority interest in the Swedish software maker, Industrial & Financial Systems AB (IFS). "This partnership completes another important link in our Industrial IT strategy," says Jouko Karvinen, executive vice president and head of ABB's automation technology products division. The similarities in software design between ABB and IFS promise both a smooth integration of each of our technologies, which is the seamless integration of plant systems with a full suite of business applications. For more than a year, IFS has been developing ways to integrate its business software, called IFS Applications, with ABB's Industrial IT platform. Says Bengt Nilsson, CEO of IFS, "We are creating a complete, collaborative backbone that will handle the whole spectrum of automation and information, from boardroom to shopfloor."

The national consulting firm of Carter & Burgess is pleased to announce the additional of Ron Vallort as an Associate and the Director of the Food and Beverage Group for the firm's Retail & Distribution Division. Mr. Vallort's responsibilities include all management, design, marketing and business development activities for food and beverage clients nationally and internationally. Mr. Vallort has more than 35 years of worldiwde experience in the food industry.

On July 16, Rockwell Automation presented an overview of the company's energy efficiency initative before Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta, Ohio Governor Bob Taft, and a host of Ohio state congresspersons. The presentation was conducted at the Rockwell Automation Advanced Development Laboratory in Euclid, Ohio. "I am impressed and excited about the groundbreaking technology taking place at Rockwell Automation," stated Mineta, who visited Rockwell Automation to highligh President Bush's National Energy Policy. "On behalf of President Bush and Vice President Cheney, I congratulate you and your exceptional team on the success of your commercial-scale 1,000 horsepower high-temperature superconductor motor, commented Mineta. "With so many potential applications, this motor serves as an exellent example of a new era in America."

Flow International Corp. has appointed Pat Adams to the new position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Fresher Under Pressure, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of FLOW. Fresher Under Pressure uses ultrahigh-pressure to destroy food-borne bacteria and organisms that cause health hazards and spoilage in fresh foods, without compromising food's taste, texture, or nutritional value. Previously, Adams was president of IBA's Food Safety Division.

Doug Dougherty of Redmond, Ore. has been names national sales manager for Frank Door Company of Newport, N.C. Frank Door is a leading maker of insulated doors for a wide variety of cold-storage applications. In his new position, Dougherty is responsible for the direction and further development of the company's field representative force.