Cummins is moving forward with plans to spin off its filtration business.

The company filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission to have an initial public offering of stock for the new company, to be called Atmus Filtration Technologies. The name comes from the word “atmosphere” and is meant to reflect the company’s purpose of protecting what is important in the environment, according to the company. The stock symbol will be ATMU.

Steph Disher will continue as CEO of the company.

Atmus Filtration Technologies was founded by Cummins in 1958. The company is a global leader in filtration products for on-highway commercial vehicles and off-highway vehicles and equipment includeing those in agriculture, construction, mining and power generation.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been announced. The IPO is expected after the SEC completes its review process.

It looks to be a windy day, with wind gusts of up to 60 mph possible.

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued a wind advisory that goes into effect at noon today and lasts until 10 p.m. tonight.

Winds will be southwest at 15 to 25 mph with gusts around 45 mph possible throughout central and southern Indiana this afternoon. Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible late this afternoon and evening, which could bring gusts of up to 60 mph according to the agency.

Any unsecured items in your yard could be blown around today. You could also see tree limbs getting knocked down and power outages are possible.

You should use extra caution if you are on the road, especially if you are driving a high-profile vehicle.

Black History Month Columbus is hosting a jazz concert with pianist Christopher Pitts Saturday at the Helen Haddad Hall on Franklin Street.

The concert is sponsored by the African American Fund Bartholomew County, African American Pastors Alliance, NAACP Columbus/Bartholomew, Paths to Success, Taylor Bros., Cummins Inc., Heritage Fund Community Foundation and Columbus Regional Health.

Pitts is a jazz pianist and composer based in Indianapolis.

The show will be at 7 p.m. Saturday evening at the hall in the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic headquarters at 315 Franklin Street.

Tickets are still available and are $50 each. You can get more information and purchase tickets at blackhistorycolumbus.com.

A proposed Columbus ordinance would prohibit the outdoor storage of hazardous materials in the flood plain.

Columbus City Council will consider that and other changes to the zoning ordinance governing flood plain standards when it meets tonight.

The flood hazard standards outlined in the city ordinance are meant to meet at least the minimum standards required for communities to take part in the federally- backed flood insurance program.

The city Plan Commission recommended approval of the changes when it met earlier this month.

A provision would prohibit the outdoor storage of hazardous materials in the flood plain. The materials could still be stored indoors if the location is elevated and flood protected.

The revisions will not include a proposal that any structures in the flood plain would have to be made to comply with the ordinance whenever an addition or improvement was made. The city will keep the rule that requires compliance if improvements worth more than half of a structure’s value are made.

Columbus City Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight at Columbus City Hall.

Heritage Fund: The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County is announcing three new members for its board of directors.

The agency recently announced the addition of Phil Luzius, Courtney Metzger and Kathy Oren to the board.

Luzius is local entrepreneur.

Metzger serves as the CEO of Bartholomew County REMC.

Oren serves as president and CEO of the Community Education Coalition.

They are replacing retiring board members John Burnett, Matt Kirr, Mark Levett and Norbert Nusterer.

Board members will serve four-year terms with the option for a renewable term.

Cummins is announcing a new, 540-horsepower diesel engine that will be produced for military use.

The company’s Coventry, England branch announced the new ISL9 engine that will be used in commercial on- and off-road vehicles as well as military vehicles such as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and logistical trucks.

Carlos Gasteazoro-Martin, Cummins Defense Segment Leader, said the engine will be ideal for military customers as well as users looking for a reliable, cost effective, and volume efficient solution.

The company says the engine will provide high performance with low operating costs, while being able to run on military grade high sulphur diesel.

The optimized 9-litre engine increased horsepower by 20 percent, as well as increased torque. The higher power capability allows vehicles to carry a heavier load, without sacrificing speed or reliability.

The company says the engines are now available for vehicle integration and testing purposes through local representatives.

Photo: Cummins L9 engine. Photo courtesy of Cummins

Branches of Ivy Tech Community College will be helping students enroll in classes for the upcoming semester at upcoming Open Enrollment Days.

Classes start on March 20th. You can get help enrolling at Ivy Tech Columbus on from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at Moravec Hall on Central Avenue. And there will an Open Enrollment Day at Ivy Tech Franklin from 9 to 4 p.m. on February 27th at its building on McClain Drive in Franklin.

During the Open Enrollment Day events new students can complete many or all the enrollment steps and be ready for classes.

Students are encouraged to apply to the college for free online before the event at ivytech.edu/admissions/apply-now.

Several area businesses and not for profit groups were recognized last week at the Indiana statehouse for their work improving adult education efforts statewide.

According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the agency and the Indiana Association for Adult and Continuing Education, recognized Hoosier adult learners as well as Indiana employers at the 2023 Adult Education Day ceremony.

In Indiana, 70% of adult learners are employed after earning their high school equivalency and experience an average wage increase of $8,400 annually. Last year, 3,795 Hoosier adult learners earned their high school equivalency.

During the ceremony, 16 business partners were recognized for offering adult education classes to their staff. Those included Sans Souci, in Columbus; Horizon House in Shelbyville; and Brown County Health & Living in Nashville.

The organizations were recognized for efforts such as providing employees’ wages for attending adult education classes; Supplying classroom space and computers or other technology to support students; and Offering permanent employment to workers who successfully completed classes.

The National Weather Service will be holding a Skywarn weather spotters class in Columbus on March 8th.

SKYWARN is a national program of trained volunteers who help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

The Columbus class will be from 6 to 8 in the evening at the lecture hall in the Columbus Learning Center on Central Avenue.

The class is free.

If you have any questions, you can call the Bartholomew County Emergency Management office at 812-379-1680.

Faurecia and Cummins are negotiating for the sale of Faurecia’s Columbus plant to the engine manufacturer. That is part of a $160 million deal to sell part of Faurecia’s commercial vehicle exhaust aftertreatment business in Europe and the U.S.

Faurecia announced the negotiations last week saying the sale would include the Columbus plant as well as one in the Netherlands.

Faurecia said it has had Cummins as a close and reliable partner since 2010. The sale would put Faurecia’s commercial vehicle aftertreatment activities with a committed engine manufacturer.

Faurecia CEO Patrick Koller said that the change would secure activities at the plants and that he was confident that employees, customers and over overall business would continue to develop under Cummins ownership.

Faurecia will continue its Clean Mobility activities in commercial vehicles exhaust and aftertreatment, mainly in China and India. The parent company, Forvia, would continue to focus on light vehicle ultra-low emission activities and accelerate its hydrogen roadmap.

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