DELTONA, FLA.—The Franklin-Thomas Company (FTC) and Carino Energy Renewables Limited (Carino) announced that they would provide unique StarPower fast charging stations for electric vehicles.  FTC’s CEO Joe Shepard’s recently patented split rotor generator powers the new CHAdeMO/Level 3 charging stations. The new charging stations combine FTC’s new 70 kW split rotor generator with a 120 hp natural gas engine. This means “green,” grid-free, rapid charging stations virtually everywhere with 500 VDC at 125 Amp. Carino Energy will distribute the charging stations worldwide under their name. Designed to charge all brands of electric vehicles, the charger could be as ubiquitous as...

SAN FRANCISCO—Pioneering bamboo interior finishes manufacturer Smith & Fong announced the launch of Brushed Tusk, the latest in its growing range of palm floor offerings, according to company founder and CEO Dan Smith. “Brushed Tusk is the first in a series of product designs inspired by the culture and landscapes of India,” Smith said. “Our materials come from the rural regions of India where the palm grows natively, and it’s very much a part of daily life there. By tapping into existing palm supply chains we are able to select colors and grains for our new designs.” Brushed Tusk is ideal...

FORT WASHINGTON, PENN.—Sofidel, a leading global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, introduced Papernet Heavenly Soft Superior which includes a range of high-quality laminated tissue and towels. Heavenly Soft Superior utilizes a unique construction that allows plies of paper to be bonded and embossed together with glue, creating a softer “at home” look and feel with laminated designs such as Micro, Circle & Leaf, Acorn and Wave. “The Heavenly Soft Superior line exceeds customer expectations by providing an extra level of softness, unique designs, and increased reliability and reduced cost thanks to greater absorbency,” said Fabio Vitali, Vice...

MUSKEGON, MICH.—EarthTronics announced the addition of Leroy Herring, Jr., who has extensive business and sales development experience in the lighting industry. Appointed Midwest Regional Sales Manager, Herring has helped large and small corporations navigate through tremendous business growth. As a result, Herring will be responsible for directing commercial sales through manufacturers rep agencies, electrical distribution, lighting showrooms, ESCOs, contractors and national accounts. “Herring has very impressive and extensive lighting credentials,” said Tripp Smith, Vice President of Sales. “In fact, his collaborative approach, which fits our company culture, has built strong relationships to drive a positive change throughout his career. Herring...

LONDONDERRY, N.H.—Bosch Thermotechnology Corp. announced a new line of tankless gas condensing water heaters. The Bosch Greentherm 9000 Series offers nine models for high-efficiency domestic hot water in residential or commercial applications, adding new features for easy installation, operation and maintenance. The Consumer Technology Association recently recognized the Greentherm 9900i SE model as a CES 2017 Innovation Awards Honoree. The Greentherm 9000 Series features an Energy Factor of 0.99 with Thermal Efficiency of 100 percent, which is the highest in the industry for condensing gas water heaters. This series achieves temperature stability of plus or minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit through...

CINCINNATI—P&G announced additional investments in recycling and beneficial reuse that will eliminate all manufacturing waste from its global network of more than 100 production sites by 2020. Since P&G began qualifying sites as zero manufacturing waste to landfill, 56 percent of its global production sites have achieved this milestone. Plans are now in place to complete the remaining facilities over the next four years. This means eliminating or beneficially reusing about 650,000 metric tons of waste, equivalent to the weight of nearly 350,000 mid-sized cars that would typically go to landfills. “We are accelerating progress toward our long term vision and...

PASADENA, CALIF.—LATHER has partnered with The Breakers, a 140-acre luxury resort in the heart of Palm Beach, Fla., to unveil an exclusive line of skincare products. The Breakers Sea Glass collection is gently formulated with natural, rich ingredients and soothing botanical blends. The Breakers Sea Glass collection offers a custom blend of natural ingredients and marine extracts. Each formulation contains beneficial extract blends such as Sea Algae, Sea Kelp, Spirulina, Aloe, Wheat Germ Oil, Witch Hazel, Mango, Coconut and Orange Peel. Free of sulfates, parabens, DEA, TEA, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, artificial colorants and any harsh chemicals, the six...

CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y.—Between hotel restaurants, coffee shops, and room service operations, a single hotel can produce more than 250,000 pounds of food waste per year. With many states implementing food waste bans and formally monitoring waste outputs from hotels, stadiums, and restaurant chains, the waste management industry is undergoing an unprecedented change. Technology is going to be a key driver of this change, particularly as companies learn to creatively utilize the cloud and Big Data to dispose of food waste more efficiently. And in recent months, one company has taken this one step further, by bringing in artificial intelligence. BioHiTech Global...

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF.—Noritz America has announced the promotion of company veteran Jay Hassel from his current post as Vice President of Sales and Marketing to President and Chief Operating Officer. Hassel thus becomes the first American to serve as president for Noritz’s North American subsidiary. He succeeds Hisashi Uryu, who retains the title of Chief Executive Officer while also returning to the parent company in Japan to serve as an officer for Noritz Corp., based in Kobe, Japan. In the wake of these changes, Noritz America has announced two other key management promotions: • Sr. Marketing and Customer Care Manager Jason Fleming...

LAGUNA HILLS, CALIF.—A new intelligent toilet product just hitting the market offers an effective and affordable solution for anyone who has ever been subjected to a constant-flowing or over-flowing toilet. The Valvin unit is an electronically controlled valve actuator that can be integrated with any standard toilet tank fill valve to relieve the mess, stress, damage and costs of a malfunctioning toilet. This patented intelligent valve is designed to turn off water flow in toilets when any abnormal activity is detected: an open flapper leak, a fill valve leak or even a silent flapper leak, and more. If water begins leaking in...