Business Diary. - Crain's Detroit Business

Acquisitions

AkzoNobel, a Troy paint and coatings supplier, has acquired Soliant L.L.C., a Lancaster, S.C., manufacturer of decorative paint and bright films.

Contracts

Technical Training Inc., Rochester Hills, will provide dealer technical training for Russian automaker Gorky Automotive Works. Technical Training Inc. will train 80 dealerships and 140 automotive technicians in support of Gorky's new car, the Siber.

Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc., Plymouth, and Manz Automation AG, Reutligen, Germany, have entered into a joint project to develop a new machine concept for the production of thin-film solar modules.

Brendy Barr Communications, Oakland Township, has been hired by Managing Thought L.L.C. to provide public-relations support to promote the release of West Bloomfield Township resident Mary Lore's new book, Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World?

DesignHub Inc., Saline, designed and developed the new Web site for the Adashi 3.0 incident response and command software (www.adashi.org) from OptiMetrics Inc., Ann Arbor.

Hile Design L.L.C., Ann Arbor, developed a new Web site for the Rockwell Lake Lodge, a conference and retreat center in Luther, at www.therockwelllakelodge.com. The lodge is on the grounds of Hillsdale College's G.H. Gordon Biological Station in Northwestern Michigan.

UHY Advisors MI Inc., Southfield, announced a partnership with Detroit Cristo Rey High School. The business advisory firm participated in the new Catholic high school's summer work-study internship program. Every Cristo Rey student takes part in the program to gain work experience and earn tuition.

JankowskiCo., a Troy-based advertising agency, has launched a new branding initiative for the West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science, a Grand Rapids charter school.

Qualitech, Bingham Farms, was selected by Biosan Laboratories Inc., a Warren microbiological testing kits company, to upgrade its computer network with a new Intel network server, new high-speed continuous backup technology, off-site disaster recovery storage and new workstations.

Attendance on Demand Inc., Farmington Hills, has been selected by the North Carolina-based Piedmont Triad Airport Authority to monitor and track employee time and attendance.

Grand River Interactive, Ann Arbor, completed a new e-commerce Web site, www.gandermountain.com, for Gander Mountain, a St. Paul, Minn.-based outdoor sporting goods retailer.

Nudell Architects, a Farmington Hills-based company, has teamed with J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Dallas, to design the first building to earn the Energy Star standard from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The J.C. Penney store is under construction in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

Covisint, Detroit, and a Minneapolis-based coalition announced an agreement to build the Minnesota Health Information Exchange, an electronic network to give the state's health care providers patient-controlled access to medical information.

Creative Brands, a Warren food distributor, has purchased the rights to Bulldog Seafood sardines. Creative Brands plans to expand the Bulldog Seafood product line to other products, including hot sauces, spices and other canned seafood.

Clor & Associates, a Grosse Pointe Farms manufacturers representative and consulting agency, has added AQC-Dust Collectors and Capture Equipment and Emerald Air Systems to its line of products.

Sutariya Law Offices P.C., Westland, has become a member of ACA International-The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, Minneapolis.

expansions

Finn and Porter has been chosen as the new steakhouse in the Fort Shelby Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in downtown Detroit. Its menu is to include steak, sushi, seafood and a Sunday gospel brunch. The restaurant chain has locations in Austin, Texas; Missoula, Mont.; Alexandria, Va.; and Washington, D.C.

Ricardo Inc., Van Buren Township, is expanding its Shanghai-based Chinese operations with a new Shanghai technical center and also is building a testing center in the Anting 'Auto City'' area west of Shanghai.

Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan has opened a new health center at 4229 Cass Ave., Detroit. Web site: www.plannedparenthood.org/ midsouthmi.

name changes

The Law Firm of Levine, Benjamin, Tushman, Bratt, Jerris and Stein P.C., Southfield, to Levine Benjamin. Web site: www.levinebenjamin.com.

New programs

Evigia Systems Inc., Ann Arbor, has introduced its EV3 product line of RFID active transponders, interrogators and accessories. Web site: www.evigia.com.

Startups

Metro Detroit Speed Dating, Ferndale, plans to schedule weekly speed-dating events in the Detroit area. Up to 96 single men and women meet during eight-minute dates and decide whether or not to see their dates again. Steve Neavling is the organization's founder. Telephone: (586) 306-5572.

Seniors Helping Seniors is designed to connect Macomb County seniors who have an ability to help others with those who need assistance. Founder Al Caicedo is a certified senior consultant who is building rosters of both groups.

Other

NSF International, Ann Arbor, announced Premium Waters Inc., a Minneapolis-based bottled water company, is among the first to receive Safe Quality Food Code 2000 Certification. Premium Waters plants in Kansas, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee and Georgia have received the voluntary certification.

Bright House Networks, Livonia, is offering its cable television customers free on demand viewing of the presidential and vice presidential debates on C-SPAN. All four debates will be available until Nov. 6 on channel 123, Elections '08 On Demand.

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, Auburn Hills, has received a three-year accreditation from CARF (formerly known as the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities). The authority provides services and supports to over 16,000 county residents with developmental disabilities, adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances.