Milford, Ohio-based Total Quality Logistics Inc. (TQL) has gained acceptance into the Leadership Circle of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Leadership Circle is an elite group of businesses in Cincinnati’s tri-state area assisting in the expansion of the BBB’s services into the community. Support for the Leadership Circle enables the BBB to enhance its ability to impact business ethics and community outreach. In other company news, TQL has grown from two employees since its inception in 1997 to more than 300 employees as of September 13. The company plans to reach at least 350 employees by year end.

In September, IBM and Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI) announced a strategic partnership in which IRI will deploy a complete portfolio of IBM software technologies to power its real-time market information platform, MarketKnowledge, and predictive business performance management solutions.

Advanced Food Systems announced in September that Kent, Wash.-based Medosweet Farms has signed a contract to purchase a new financial, distribution and delivery automation software solution from the Phoenix-based company. To streamline the operations of its growing business, the solution is expected to help Medosweet Farms improve customer service, increase employee productivity, reduce operating expenses and improve overall business efficiency using the accurate, integrated information the system will provide.

The Steritech Group Inc., Charlotte, N.C., has been recognized as a 2005 “Champion” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program for using “integrated pest management strategies to reduce the human health and environmental risks associated with pesticide usage.” This is the second time the company has earned this honor. In 1999, Steritech became the first structural pest management firm to receive the “Excellence Award,” which the honor was called at that time.

In September, Brewerton, N.Y.-based Schneider Packaging Equipment Co., celebrated 35 years in business with customers and other visitors at Pack Expo Las Vegas. To kick off the celebration, the company treated guests to birthday treats at its booth each day of the show.

August marked the 45th anniversary of Corry, Pa.-based Erie Plastics. Coming a long way from its humble beginnings in a plant of 8,000 square feet with two injection molding machines, the company has expanded to include facilities in Massachusetts and Hungary, and has located its main operations in a 465,000-square-foot state-of-the-art building in Corry. With this year’s annual sales expected to reach $100 million, Erie Plastics now produces 10 billion parts annually.

Monument Advisors, an Indianapolis-based private equity fund, has acquired Separators Inc., also located in Indianapolis. Separators Inc. specializes in the reconditioning and manufacturing of industrial centrifuge equipment used in various industries including dairy, juice, edible oils, meat rendering, winery, bio-med, pharmaceutical and industrial fluids. Monument Advisors purchased the assets of the company in June.

Tripmaster Corp., Arlington, Texas, has announced compliance with the new Department of Transportation hours of service (HOS) regulations. As promised, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued new HOS rules for property carriers and drivers effective October 1, with a three-month transitional period for compliance and enforcement from October 1 through the end of the year.

Indianapolis-based ICOR International Inc. is celebrating two 10-year anniversaries this year — 10 years since its incorporation and 10 years since the introduction of its premier product, Hot Shot® refrigerant. The company’s vision is to continue providing quality, environmentally safe and easy-to-use ACR products.