"Thanks to Governor Sanford's strong leadership and the work of the Department of Commerce, Duke Energy and local officials, ATW is pleased to select South Carolina for its titanium manufacturing facility and Tech Center. The attentiveness and assistance from government and local businesses, including Senator Graham, Senator DeMint and Congressman Barrett, helped us conclude that South Carolina was not only a good choice, but the best choice for our business. This titanium facility will mark a breakthrough in the evolution of the titanium industry with the co-location of state-of-the-art equipment and technologies that will lower costs and delivery lead times. The combination of lower costs and reliable delivery will create new market opportunities throughout the world. ATW is confident in the ability of the state's workforce to execute our production needs and we look forward to establishing and growing our business in South Carolina," said Mr. Sax.

ATW also announced today that it will establish its applications development and engineering technical center in Greenville County at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) campus. ATW's Tech Center will create 40 applied engineering jobs that will specialize in prototype development and fabrication techniques for multiple industry sectors.

"At the suggestion of Commerce officials, we chose to look at CU-ICAR for our research and development facility. Commerce officials recognized the synergies that existed between our product and CU-ICAR. Additionally, it was important that we locate the Tech Center in close proximity to the manufacturing facility and we are pleased to accomplish this goal with the selection of Laurens and Greenville Counties," added Mr. Sax.

Titanium has twice the strength-to-weight ratio of steel, is resistant to corrosion and can be worked like other metals.

By producing melted and rolled titanium products through innovative processes, ATW will reduce the costs and lead times associated with traditional titanium production, thus making the product desirable to a broader range of industries including defense, industrial, commercial, consumer and emerging markets. Specific market drivers for titanium include chemical processing, high-performance machinery including racing, aerospace, biomedical, power generation and energy efficiency.

"As South Carolina works to compete in a global economy, it is critical that we make strategic decisions when working to recruit large investors. By focusing our efforts on improving the business climate here with fundamental reforms that attract entrepreneurship and innovation, we have yielded substantial dividends. As well, our state's focus on regulatory reform, like workers' comp reform, tort reform and lower taxes, creates an environment that allows our existing businesses to be more competitive and successful while rewarding entrepreneurs like ATW. ATW is not only a start-up company, but it is also an innovator in its field and we believe production of rolled titanium in South Carolina will attract major titanium users throughout North America and the world to our state," said Gov. Mark Sanford.

"Highly efficient, rolled titanium holds great promise for the Department of Defense and other industries, because of the metal's strength and light weight," said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). "ATW's Tech Center in Greenville County and manufacturing facility in Laurens County will play an important role in developing new titanium applications and partnerships in a variety of industries. We are proud to have them in the Upstate."

"ATW's production of rolled titanium in South Carolina presents tremendous opportunity to grow existing industries in our state and attract new industries and investors from throughout the world. ATW's production efficiencies are unique and the company's focus to target a broad industrial base including defense, energy, automotive and aerospace is an incredible complement to the diversity and skill of our workforce, business community and research and development capacity. This investment will truly benefit the entire state. We welcome ATW to South Carolina and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them in the years ahead," said Joe Taylor, South Carolina Secretary of Commerce.

The manufacturing facility will incorporate proprietary technologies and process innovations enabling ATW to convert a wide variety of inputs into alloyed and commercially pure ingots, rounds and slabs of various sizes. Rolled product will be available from 0.1875" to 4.0" in thickness, widths up to 96" and lengths in excess of 240". ATW will also offer scrap blending, melting and rolling services each on a toll basis.

Erigo Technologies LLC of Enfield, New Hampshire initiated the formation of ATW and recruited the ATW management team. "We look forward to beginning ATW's research and development operations in Greenville. South Carolina has numerous resources to meet our Tech Center's needs, including a deep pool of engineering talent and extensive innovation occurring throughout the state. We are thrilled to be coming to an area where university researchers are actively involved with the industrial community," said Nabil Elkouh, Ph.D., President of Erigo Technologies LLC and Chief Technology Officer of ATW. Dr. Elkouh will lead the ATW Tech Center in Greenville.

The ATW team includes Gordon Willett, Chief Operating Officer; Scott Jackson, Executive Vice President of Melting Operations and Sales; Richard Dykast, Executive Vice President of Mill Operations; and Stuart E. Schwartz, Chief Financial Officer.

ATW has selected SMS Demag as its rolling equipment supplier. Mizuho Corporate Bank Ltd. is arranging financing. McCallum Sweeney Consulting was retained to assist with site selection.

"It is pleasing to witness the state and community where one resides experience prosperity and success. The impact that this project will have on the entire region in terms of jobs, research and economic development opportunities in other industries is especially gratifying. This was a very competitive project that South Carolina won, not because our firm is located in Greenville, S.C., but because the Department of Commerce, the Governor, Laurens County, Greenville County, Duke Energy and CU-ICAR pursued this project aggressively and with purpose," said Ed McCallum, senior principal, McCallum Sweeny Consulting Inc.

Construction is scheduled to begin by 2010. A ground-breaking ceremony will be held at both at a future date. Information regarding ATW may be obtained by contacting info@amtiwks.com.

SOURCE: S.C. Dept. of Commerce

S.C. Dept. of Commerce 
Kara Borie, 803-737-1998

The Conference also aims to address the issues of land, water and biodiversity conservation along with enhancing competitiveness and livlihood of small land holders, he said.

More than 100 delegates, including policy makers, farmers, scientists and private sector, from 23 African countries are expected to participate in the Conference.

The Conference is jointly organised by Indian Farmers Fertliser Cooperative Foundation (IFFCO) with Agricultural Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

According to Conference Steering Committe member R B Singh, efforts should be made to identify specific ares of cooperation like soil testing, soil health management and integrated nutrient management through water conservation, watershed management and post harvest handling.

Both India and Africa share common history of fighting apartheid and poverty and now there is a need for both to cooperate and share technology to produce more food to provide food security, said Republic of Mozambique High Commission Carlos Agostinho Do Rosario.

"Our growth at international level is on the rise," said Nicolas Deschaux, President of the FFSA. "This exciting partnership with ICAR, which boasts a state-of-the-art motorsport facility, will become an extraordinary platform allowing us to export our expertise in motorsport training."

The Auto Sport Academy North America has one mission: to redefine motorsport training with a unique program for up and coming drivers. "We want to create learning opportunities for young drivers, prepare mechanically-minded young people for a trade in the world of motorsports and develop driving instructors," stated Richard Bouchard, Managing Director of ASA NA. "Furthermore, we want to provide a safe social environment for the young trainees, who will ultimately come from all over North America, by surrounding them with proper schooling, sporting and cultural activities with accommodation at the Laurentian Academy."

In order to give young drivers, aged 14 to 23, the opportunity to enroll for the 2009 European FFSA Auto Sport Academy program, the ICAR Academy will hold an evaluation session on October 12th 2008 on the ICAR site at Mirabel.

Elie Arseneau is the first ICAR representative competing in Europe. A graduate of Quebec Karting, the 17-year old is in his first year of open-wheel competition. Racing successfully in the FORMUL'ACADEMY Euro Series, operated by the French Auto Sport Academy, Elie sits eighth overall after six races of the 2008 season.

Louis-Philippe Gelinas, Director of Operations of ICAR, is happy with the launch of the new division of the ICAR Academy, directed by Jean-Francois Veilleux. "Our goal is to promote the growth of motorsport and to make it more accessible. With quality partners such as the FFSA Auto Sport Academy and the Laurentian Academy, we are convinced that one day, we will see some of our future graduates compete at the highest levels of the sport," remarked Gelinas.

About Auto Sport Academy

Based in Le Mans, the Auto Sport Academy has schooled drivers and mechanics for the past 15 years. In 1993, French petroleum giant Elf decided to get actively involved by creating a driver development program called "la Filiere Elf". In 2001, the French Motorsport Federation took over the program and renamed it "la Filiere FFSA". Its mission: to remain a world-class training center and reinforce its standing on the international stage. The center was renamed the Auto Sport Academy in 2007. www.autosportacademy.com

About ICAR

The International Club Academy Racing (ICAR), an ultramodern car racing complex located on the landing strip of Mirabel Airport, aims to become a leader in the high performance car racing industry. The ICAR complex, which officially opened in mid-may 2008, offers a configurable, high-end/high-tech circuit with very innovative security norms. The management of the ICAR Academy offers to corporations and the general public a large variety of advance, controlled environment driving and racing programs where participants experience high speeds in the ICAR Mustang driven by a professional driver or register to an ICAR Mustang GT high performance package. ICAR expects that its unique complex will serve as a showcase for the automotive industry to hold events such as launches of new car models, private testing or to introduce customer loyalty programs. The private ICAR Club offers its members unlimited track time and several exclusive high-end services, such as a lounge in an exclusive pavilion. For more information, please visit www.circuiticar.com

Contacts:
Media
Sandra Pare
450-979-1838
sandra@pare.com

Richard Bouchard
Managing Director ASA NA
514-949-1229

SOURCE: International Club Academy Racing (ICAR)

mailto:sandra@pare.com

Also, a right price to farmers, who are responsible for cultivation, is key to ensuring food security, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General Mangala Rai told PTI here.

"You will have to ensure the use of quality seeds of improved varieties and hybrids. Maize yield per hectare, for instance, has gone up by 4 quintal per acre in a year due to more use of quality seeds," he said.

The maize production in the country has been estimated at 19.31 million tons in 2007-08, against 15.10 million tons in the previous year.

"The US has 95-96 per cent of the total area under single-cross hybrid (high yielding seed varieties), but in India we have only six per cent area under hybrid seeds. We need to increase it," he said.

Rai also said that the average productivity of castor in Gujarat has been raised to 16 quintals per hectare through the use of quality seeds, while the national average is only five quintals.

Not just seeds, but remunerative prices to farmers, too, should grab the centre stage, Rai said, adding "If peasants don't get the right price, it will be very hard for them to try and improve productivity through the use of seeds of improved varieties and sophisticated technology". Apart from these factors, the country should take care of the soil health which is deteriorating.

"Each year you are mining nutrients to the tune of 30 million tons but are putting in only 20 million tons, with a net deficit of 10 million tons each year. Moreover, we are hardly taking care of micro nutrient. The situation needs to improve," he said.

However, talking about the alarming price rise of foodgrains in global markets, the ICAR DG said, India is in a better position than some other nations which witnessed riot-like situations due to shortage of food.

"Rice prices have shot up by 189 per cent in global markets in the last one year and wheat prices have spiralled by 90 per cent. However, the prices rose only 8.4 per cent each in India even against the country's overall inflation rate of 12.63 per cent for the week ended August 9," he said.