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Linking up Combining strengths
NEWS
Combining strengths
Dassault Systèmes and National Composites Centre join forces
Dassault Systèmes, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, and the UK National Composites Centre (NCC), have announced the signature of a partnership to create a collaborative environment where the NCC and its partners will work on tomorrow’s advanced composites products, thanks to Dassault Systèmes’ Version 6 3D Experience platform. As the first official Associate Member, Dassault Systèmes joins other companies and enterprising academics to develop new methods and technologies to become the UK’s hub for design and rapid manufacture of high quality composite products.
Inaugurated in November 2011 and located in the Bristol & Bath Science Park (UK), the NCC provides its members with a collaborative modeling and simulation environment based on Dassault Systèmes’ V6 solutions to develop innovative composites products in a neutral space, with unique design-to-manufacturing user experiences.
Dassault Systèmes has a longstanding leadership in providing composites solutions for sustainable innovation, addressing key challenges in industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine and energy. Visit: www.3ds.com
DHV and Royal Haskoning to merge
Engineering consultancies DHV and Royal Haskoning are to merge. The new company will be one of Europe’s leading independent project management, engineering and consultancy service providers and will rank globally in the top 10 of independently owned, non-listed companies and top 40 overall.
The intended name of the new company will be Royal Haskoning DHV. With its headquarters in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, the company’s 8000 staff will provide services from more than 100 offices in over 35 countries. Together, they deliver solutions to clients in planning & transport, delta & water technology, maritime, aviation, industry & energy and buildings. The new combination will have a turnover in excess of €700 million. Visit: www.dhv.com
Rio Tinto to sell its speciality aluminas business
Rio Tinto has received a binding offer for its speciality aluminas business from H.I.G. A period of exclusivity has been agreed to with H.I.G.
Guy Elliott, chief financial officer of Rio Tinto said, “The potential sale is in line with our strategy of continuing to streamline our aluminium group through the divestment of non-core assets.”
The specialty aluminas business is the largest integrated supplier of non-metallurgical grade aluminas with four production sites: Gardanne, La Bâthie, Beyrède in France, and Teutschenthal in Germany. It employs 730 people. Visit: www.riotinto.com
CN TETRAGEN acquires Nokia Siemens Networks’ Expedience business
CN TETRAGEN, a privately held Spanish technology holding, has acquired Nokia Siemens Networks’ proprietary, fixed-wireless broadband business, Expedience. Under the terms of the transaction, CN TETRAGEN acquired the complete Expedience portfolio, assets and the active customer and supplier contracts. The Expedience business is not part of Nokia Siemens Networks’ mobile broadband portfolio based on widely adopted industry standards. CN TETRAGEN has in-depth knowledge of the Expedience portfolio and recognises an opportunity to provide outstanding products and services to the operators who have invested in the technology. CN TETRAGEN has set up a company called Nexpedience Networks to operate the Expedience assets. “With this acquisition, we are in a good position to ensure continuity for the manufacturing of the Expedience technology while developing a solid roadmap for its future. We are extremely committed to achieving this,” said Kiriako Vergos, chairman and CEO of CN TETRAGEN. Visit: www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com
Funkwerk AG sells Avionics GmbH subsidiary
Funkwerk AG has sold all shares in Funkwerk Avionics GmbH, Waal; the subsidiary was taken over by investment and management company DREI Unternehmensbeteiligung GmbH, Lübbecke.
The contract rigorously continues the strategic reorientation initiated by Funkwerk in 2011 to focus on the company’s core sectors. The aim is to concentrate primarily on growth fields with strong margins, shedding any and all peripheral sectors in order to use the company’s resources more efficiently. Funkwerk Avionics GmbH operates in the aerospace industry. Its product range includes radio equipment, emergency transmitters, navigation technology, transponders, and displays for small and light aircraft. The company is no longer part of the core business of the group’s Automotive Communication segment. The latter had been restructured as part of the group’s focusing strategy to concentrate exclusively on OEM supply for automobile and lorry manufacturers. Visit: www.funkwerk.com
LINKINGUP
Lecta to take over Polyedra
Leoni, the leading provider of cables and cable systems to the automotive sector and other industries, is selling its Swiss subsidiary Leoni Studer Hard AG to Synergy Health, a leading global provider of outsourced sterilisation services to the medical device market and healthcare sector. The purchase price amounts to €47.6 million.
The divestiture of the company, located in Däniken, Switzerland, comprises a Gamma and an X-ray sterilisation device, both providing irradiation services to the medical device, pharmaceutical and packaging industries. All of the 35 employees will also be taken over by Synergy Health.
By selling the Swiss subsidiary, Leoni Group is adjusting its irradiation services portfolio. The company will focus on the electron beam crosslinking technology and expand the related business in order to strengthen its leading position in this field in Europe. As a consequence, Leoni will continue operating all its crosslinking installations in Däniken and Bautzen (Germany), which are a vital part of its core cable production value-chain. These services will from now on be provided by Leoni Group’s subsidiary Leoni Studer AG. Visit: www.leoni.com
Wärtsilä has signed a contract to acquire the assets and business of MMI Boiler Management Pte Ltd, the Singapore-based company specialising in the service and maintenance of boilers for marine and industrial applications. MMI Boiler Management has its main operations in Singapore and coverage throughout South East Asia and the Pacific region.
The acquisition further strengthens Wärtsilä’s boiler services offering and enhances its leading position in the global marine services market. Furthermore, it supports Wärtsilä Services’ strategy of constantly developing its offering with value-enhancing services within existing customer segments.
“MMI Boiler Management’s outstanding know-how in boiler services and its excellent customer relations across its market area strongly complements Wärtsilä’s offering for boiler services. This acquisition will further enhance our competitiveness and our position as the leading provider of services to the global marine market,” says Christoph Vitzthum, group vice-president, Wärtsilä Services.
MMI Boiler Management will be integrated into Wärtsilä Corporation. All employees will continue as Wärtsilä employees after the acquisition, including the current four owners. Visit: www.wartsila.com Lecta Group, the second largest European coated wood-free manufacturer, formed by Cartiere del Garda SpA, Torraspapel SA and Condat SAS has formalised, pending approval by the European Commission, the acquisition of Italian paper merchant Polyedra, currently belonging to PaperlinX Group.
With this acquisition Lecta strengthens its position in Italy, one of the main strategic markets of the Lecta Group. In Italy, Lecta has its Cartiere del Garda CWF mill and a thorough knowledge of the coated wood-free and speciality papers markets in that country.
Lecta has a great deal of experience in the distribution business through its own Torraspapel activities in Spain, France, Portugal and Argentina. With the acquisition of Polyedra, Lecta reinforces its position as the leading manufacturer and distributor in southern Europe.
Polyedra, one of the leading paper merchants in the Italian market, has a prestigious image in all market segments and a global national coverage with a turnover of around €260 million. Visit: www.lecta.com
Anton Paar acquires the Petrotest Group
Anton Paar – world leader in providing high-precision measuring instruments in the field of density and concentration measurement, determination of dissolved CO2, rheology and material characterisation of surfaces – has acquired the Petrotest Group.Petrotest will now be called ‘Petrotest GmbH, a company of Anton Paar’ and continue operations at its headquarters in Dahlewitz, near Berlin. An expansion of the premises is planned. The acquisition of the Petrotest Group represents the largest purchase in the history of Anton Paar.
The new 100% subsidiary will be managed by Florian Wierzbicki, the former commercial manager of Petrotest, and Heinz Kindlhofer, business development manager at Anton Paar.
Volkmar Wierzbicki, former owner and CEO of Petrotest reports: “I am pleased that an innovative and also value-led high-tech company such as Anton Paar will be the new owner of Petrotest.” Visit: www.anton-paar.com
