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Linking up Combining strengths
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Combining strengths
DSM and Sinochem Group establish global anti-infectives joint venture
Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, has established a 50/50 global joint venture for its business group DSM Anti-Infectives with Sinochem Group. The joint venture will be headquartered in Hong Kong. Current DSM Anti-Infectives employees, in total around 2000 people globally, are part of the new group, to be named DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals Limited. The joint venture includes all of the current DSM Anti-Infectives activities across the world. Stefan Doboczky, member of the managing board of Royal DSM, and CEO of DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals, commented: “The establishment of this joint venture with Sinochem is fully in line with DSM’s stated strategy for its Pharma cluster: creating value via partnerships. The combination of DSM’s strong global market position in anti-infectives and Sinochem’s significant global market capability presents exciting future growth opportunities through combined technologies and access to customers, especially in the fast-growing Asian economies.” Visit: www.dsm.com
Wärtsilä and Shell to promote use of LNG as a marine fuel
Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading solutions provider, and Shell Oil Company have signed a Joint Cooperation Agreement aimed at promoting and accelerating the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. The agreement was signed in August 2011 and will run for several years.
Supplies of low cost, low emissions LNG fuel will be made available to Wärtsilä natural gas powered vessel operators, and other customers by Shell. The Joint Cooperation Agreement will focus first on supplies from the US Gulf Coast, and then later expand their efforts to cover a broader geographical range.
Gas fuelled marine engines are seen as being a logical means for ship owners and operators to comply with increasingly stringent environmental legislation. This agreement aims at increasing and easing the availability of natural gas for marine engine use, as well as developing the supply chain and infrastructure to facilitate the bunkering of LNG fuel. The two companies will jointly move these developments to marine markets in order to enhance its rapid introduction and use. Visit: www.wartsila.com
The FDS Group has announced the purchase of Cheshire-based Sealex Ltd to further strengthen its UK distributor network. Located in Ellesmere Port, Sealex Ltd is a gasket cutter and distribution company specialising in supplying sealing gaskets and hose products engineered and manufactured to suit customers’ bespoke needs. The company also supplies PPE equipment and work wear, and spillage absorption materials designed to help protect the environment. This latest acquisition will allow the FDS Group to combine and integrate its UK distribution network, with branches based in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Cardiff, Bolton and at Ellesmere Port. Visit: www.fdsgroup.net
Elekta completes the acquisition of Nucletronz
Elekta AB has successfully completed its acquisition of Nucletron, the world leader in brachytherapy treatment planning and delivery. Through the combination Elekta will offer a complete range of radiotherapy planning and delivery technologies. As the market leader in Europe and with strong positions in North America and Asia, Elekta will enhance the combined ability to meet the clinical needs of cancer patients and health care providers throughout the world.
“Now we have successfully completed the acquisition and we are very enthusiastic about building a broader, stronger and highly complementary range of cutting-edge cancer care solutions,” said Elekta’s president and CEO, Tomas Puusepp. “Nucletron will add approximately 1000 new customers to Elekta’s customer base of more than 5000 and the combination will allow the enlarged group to take mutual advantage of Nucletron’s expertise in brachytherapy combined with Elekta’s global presence, particularly in emerging markets.” Visit: www.elekta.com
LINKINGUP
Imtech acquires Groupe Techsol Marine
Imtech N.V. (IM-AE, technical services provider in Europe and on the global marine market) has announced the acquisition of the Canadian marine company Groupe Techsol Marine. This strategic acquisition means that Imtech has now a high-tech marine production site available in Canada. The acquisition also strengthens Imtech’s service and maintenance foothold in North America. With over 100 employees, Groupe Techsol Marine realises annual revenues of around €20 million.
Imtech CEO René van der Bruggen said: “We enjoy a strong position in the global marine market, being active in over 20 countries at more than 70 local offices along all major shipping routes and near major shipbuilding centres. In accordance with our strategic growth plan, we aim to significantly strengthen our marine activities. Through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, Imtech aims to double the revenue of its marine division to approximately €1 billion by 2015. Groupe Techsol Marine fits perfectly in our strategic plans.” Visit: www.imtech.eu
SABIC to join automotive innovation joint venture INPRO
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has entered into an agreement to purchase an equity stake in INPRO, a joint venture dedicated to collaborative innovation in automotive production. SABIC will join Daimler, Siemens, ThyssenKrupp and Volkswagen as equity owners in the group. The Federal State of Berlin has also held shares in INPRO since its founding in 1983.
INPRO develops innovative technologies for lightweight manufacturing and zero-defect production of automobiles. The group’s R&D focus includes the development of new production technologies for future electric and hybrid vehicles. With the realisation of new innovative computer-based software tools, INPRO aims to shorten time-to-market and enhance the overall energy efficiency of automotive production.
According to Joachim von Heimburg, Ph.D., SABIC’s general manager of global innovation and corporate research programs: “Today, more than ever before, breakthrough innovation is only possible through an ecosystem of interdependent industry leaders who know how to work together across the global value chain. As such, INPRO is an excellent fit for us and serves as yet another example of how we engage in the kind of collaboration that is necessary to fuel and accelerate automotive innovation.” Visit: www.sabic-ip.com
Bilfinger Berger strengthens industrial services
Bilfinger Berger has expanded its product offering in the field of industrial services with the acquisition of Alpha Mess-Steuer-Regeltechnik GmbH in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany, a provider of extensive electrotechnical services primarily for the gas industry, the chemicals sector and utilities. With 120 employees, the company has an annual output volume of €17 million and was previously owned by Funkwerk AG.
Alpha specialises in instrumentation, automation and electro-technology and offers design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance as well as a comprehensive range of services. Its clients include renowned companies such as E.ON, RWE, BASF, DOW and Linde. Alpha’s most important market is Germany, although it has recently carried out projects in Asia, Russia and South America.
With this acquisition, Bilfinger Berger Industrial Services strengthens its position in the electrical, measuring and control technology field, especially in the gas industry as well as in the chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical industries. Visit: www.bilfinger.com
Sika strengthens position in Brazilian automotive sector
Baar-based Sika group has agreed to acquire Colauto Adesivos e Massas Ltda in São Paolo, Brazil, a manufacturer of adhesives and sealants as well as acoustic damping and structural reinforcement elements for the fastgrowing automotive and transportation industry. Colauto is one of the leading suppliers of chemical process materials for the automotive industry in Latin America.
Colauto was founded as a family enterprise in 1962. The company operates a production site in São Paulo and generated sales of CHF 40 million in 2010 with a workforce of approximately 250. Colauto enjoys an excellent reputation in Brazil as a customer- and solution-led company with a strong market position in Latin America.
Latin America’s automotive industry has a high growth potential and the significance of Brazil as a car manufacturing country continues to increase. Visit: www.sika.com
