NEWS
Combining strengths
BASF and Atlas Copco join forces B
ASF and Atlas Copco have signed an agreement to cooperate on sprayed concrete technology and expertise for tunneling and mining, following the sale of BASF’s MEYCO Equipment business to Atlas Copco. “BASF’s expert knowledge in chemical solutions for sprayed concrete together with Atlas Copco’s global expertise in underground tunneling and mining equipment will drive the optimisation of sprayed concrete application,” said Daniel Ruckstuhl, vice-president and head of BASF’s Global Underground Construction business. “The cooperation between the two
market leaders creates a globally unmatched partnership to further develop sprayed concrete chemistry and equipment technology. This joint effort is formed to enable high performance solutions supporting safety and cost and time efficiency in tunneling and mining projects. We are pleased to announce this cooperation and look forward to working together,” he added. The demand for high quality, durable sprayed concrete which offers greater safety and reduces health risks and negative impact on the environment in tunneling and mining is ever increasing. Visit: www.basf.com
Trelleborg strengthens position in offshore oil & gas Dassault Systèmes
T
relleborg has, through its business area Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, signed an agreement and finalised the acquisition of the UK company Ambler Technologies Ltd. The company develops and produces composite materials that create strictly specified buoyancy and insulation properties in applications used primarily in
Snam, GIC and EDF sign definitive agreement with Total
T
he Consortium constituted by Snam, the Italian gas transport and storage operator (45%), GIC, the Singaporean sovereign fund (35%), and EDF (20%, through its dedicated assets for the dismantling of nuclear plants), has entered into a definitive agreement with the Total group for the acquisition of its gas
18 Industry Europe
deep-sea environments. The acquisition provides Trelleborg with access to cutting-edge expertise and expanded production capacity of strategically important components. It also strengthens Trelleborg’s position in oil and gas exploration and extraction, particularly in buoyancy modules for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs). The company’s head office and production facility are located outside the city of Manchester, UK. Net sales in 2012 amounted to approximately SEK 50 M with good profitability. “With a focus on customer-centric development, we are moving in the direction of increasingly engineered polymer solutions with a higher technology and knowledge content. The acquired operation commands unique expertise and experience in composite materials that complement our global offering, primarily in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in deep-sea environments, but also in other interesting segments,” says Fredrik Meuller, president of the Trelleborg Offshore & Construction business area. Visit: www.trelleborg.com transport and storage business in the SouthWest of France – TIGF (Transport et Infrastructures Gaz France). TIGF represents a strategic platform for the interconnection of the European gas markets, thus contributing to their further liquidity and guaranteeing security of supplies to France and Europe. Based in Pau and locally managed, TIGF employs approximately 500
acquires FE-DESIGN
D
assault Systèmes has announced the acquisition of FE-DESIGN Group, a leader in design optimisation for early-stage product development. The acquisition of FE-DESIGN, based in Karlsruhe, Germany, expands Dassault Systèmes’ SIMULIA applications to provide the most complete design optimisation solution on the market. With more than 200 global product manufacturer customers, including General Motors, BMW, SIEMENS, and Suzlon, FE-DESIGN is the technology leader for non-parametric optimisation solutions in both the structural and fluids-based domains. In a rapidly growing market, design exploration and optimisation techniques are becoming essential to balance the demands of product performance against resource efficiency and time to market constraints. FE-DESIGN’s products will enhance Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its ability to automate the process of simulating the right design more quickly and more efficiently. Visit: www.3ds.com persons and operates a 5000km-long gas pipeline network and two important gas storage sites in Lussagnet and Izaute. Carlo Malacarne, Snam’s CEO and Thomas Piquemal, member of EDF’s executive committee and Group CFO, stated: “Today’s agreement marks an important milestone towards the acquisition of TIGF by the Consortium.” Visit: www.edf.com