ACE Equipment Co. , Cleveland, has been granted a U.S. patent on the hybrid energy radiant tube burn-off oven system. Patent No. US 6,830,001 B1 covers the unique oven system, which offers the radiant tube burner design that provides more uniform oven temperatures to ±10°F. Hot and/or cold spots are eliminated and parts are stripped evenly no matter where the parts are located.

Ciba Specialty Chemicals announced the acquisition of the remaining 50 percent stake in Daihan Swiss Chemical Corp. joint-venture business in Korea for 28.5 billion Korean won, or 30.5 million Swiss francs. The purchase gives Ciba Specialty Chemicals 100 percent of the equity in business. Ciba has been a partner in the venture for 23 years. Daihan Swiss is a supplier of pigments and preparations for the Korean coatings, plastics and ink markets, and exports products globally through Ciba Specialty Chemicals. Ciba Specialty Chemicals representatives say the purchase enhances its ability to expand the business with new and patented technology that can be marketed to one of the largest markets in Asia outside of Japan.

Industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturer Nilfisk-Advance America, Malvern, Pa., launched a new web site for its Spanish-speaking customers. Located at www.pa.nilfisk-advance.com/mx, the site offers detailed information on the company's Nilfisk and CFM brand industrial vacuum cleaners and vacuum accessories.

3M announced that 3M and 3M Innovative Properties Co. have filed a patent infringement suit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis against Louis M. Gerson Co., a supplier of disposable products for the safety, automotive, medical and consumer markets. The suit alleges that Gerson's activity relating to the making, using, selling, and/or offering for sale in the United States of "the Gerson Paint System" infringes a 3M patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,820,824) covering its innovative 3M Paint Preparation System used for mixing and preparing refinish material prior to spraying. This suit is consistent with 3M's corporate intellectual property policy to protect its substantial investment in research by obtaining, maintaining and enforcing intellectual property rights in inventions resulting from its research and development.