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Ecolab's Nalco Pairs With XOS to Boost Global Energy Unit

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Ecolab’s (ECL - Free Report) Nalco Champion recently collaborated with New York-based XOS. Per the terms of the agreement, Nalco’s industry-leading 3D CRUDEFLEX automation platform will integrate XOS’ proprietary Clora Online analyzer. This will help refining customers measure online chloride salts in crude distillation units.

Notably, Nalco is the world’s leading water treatment and process improvement company. The alliance is likely to boost Ecolab’s Global Energy segment.

What Are 3D CRUDEFLEX & Clora Online?

Nalco’s 3D CRUDEFLEX approach provides an enhanced level of system assurance, providing a step change improvement in the refiner’s ability to manage specific threats to the crude units.

Meanwhile, XOS’ flagship Clora Online provides chlorine analysis without consumable gasses or elevated temperature processes and delivers real-time data.

Market Prospects

Per an article by Grand View Research, the global water treatment systems market size was valued at $23.80 billion in 2016 and is expected to see a CAGR of 7.1% through 2025. This can be attributed to growing water pollution levels, increasing urban population, and rising health awareness.

Hence, Ecolab’s latest move has been a well-timed one.

Global Energy Unit at a Glance

Ecolab’s Global Energy segment meets the process chemicals and water treatment needs of the global petroleum and petrochemical industries in both upstream and downstream applications.

In the recently reported second quarter of 2018, the segment’s revenues rose 6% to $845.2 million on strong growth in the well stimulation business and modest gains in the downstream business. Acquisition adjusted fixed currency sales in the segment were $854 million, up 6% year over year.

Price Performance

In the past year, shares of Ecolab have rallied 14.2% compared with the industry’s 6.4% rise. However, the current level is lower than the S&P 500 index’s return of 19.2%.

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Ecolab carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

A few better-ranked stocks in the broader medical space are Intuitive Surgical (ISRG - Free Report) , Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR - Free Report) and Masimo Corporation (MASI - Free Report) .

Intuitive Surgical’s expected long-term earnings growth rate is 14.7%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Integer Holdings has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.6% for the next year. The stock flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Masimo’s long-term earnings growth rate is projected at 14.8%. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2.

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