Linking up Combining strengths

NEWS

Combining strengths

DSV acquires Airmar Cargo DSV signed an agreement to acquire its exclusive agent in Colombia, Airmar Cargo SA. This transaction will strengthen DSV’s foothold in the South American market, by adding 60 employees and 4 branches (in Bogotá, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena) to its network. By entering the Colombian market, DSV is now present in 75 countries globally. Airmar Cargo SA was founded in 1997 in Bogotá. It is the leader in the seafreight forwarding export market from Colombia to the Central American and Caribbean countries and DSV’s

Concentric completes acquisition of Licos

Concentric AB has completed the acquisition of Licos Trucktec GmbH, a leading producer of water pumps and electromagnetic fan clutches for the truck industry, for €9.25 million. The acquisition will broaden Concentric’s product portfolio in a growing niche, the semi-variable water pump, and presents an opportunity to leverage Concentric’s position in the US for Licos electromagnetic fan clutches.

David Woolley, CEO of Concentric, comments: “Licos is a perfect strategic fit for Concentric, as their controllable water pump complements our own fully-variable technology, enabling us to offer customers a full range of water pumps to meet every need. Concentric will also gain access to Licos know-how in the field of electro-magnetic and friction clutch technologies. Licos in turn will benefit from a growing range of opportunities within the successful and expanding Concentric family.”

Controllability is an increasingly important driver within the commercial diesel industry and Licos clutch technology has potential applications across the range of Concentric’s oil, water and hydraulic pumps as well as in fans and compressors. The Licos combination of magnetic and friction clutch technology makes it possible to achieve zero-loss performance at high load conditions. Visit: www.concentricab.com exclusive agent since 2009. It achieved in 2012 a gross turnover of 8 million USD.

“It makes perfect sense for DSV to be present in Colombia, which has the third largest population in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico, and which is the fourth largest economy in the region. It is also for us a stepping stone into Central America. We have known Airmar Cargo and the quality of their service for many years and are very happy to bring their very professional team on board the DSV group,” says Jens Bjørn Andersen, DSV Group CEO. Visit: www.dsv.com

FM Logistic to purchase McLane FM Logistic and McLane Company Inc. have come to an agreement on the purchase of the logistics subsidiary of McLane in Brazil. The acquisition of McLane’s Brazilian logistical division by FM Logistic marks a new stage in FM Logistic’s strategy for external growth, coming just one month after the acquisition of Univeg Logistics Russia by FM Logistic. The Brazilian subsidiary of FM Logistic is to be known as FM Logistic do Brasil, or FM Brazil. Under the FM Logistic do Brasil name, FM Logistic will operate in the Latin American country out of four sites covering an area of over 200,000m2, with more than 1150 employees and a turnover of €47 million (2012 figures).

“Logistics is a major issue in the Brazilian market. Demand is high, and the ability to provide an effective response is a strategic requirement for the development of the country. Our customers tell us that, [and] that is what is behind our decision,” explains CEO Jean-Christophe Machet. Visit: www.fmlogistic.com

Probi and BiO-LiFE start probiotic partnership

PROBI AB, a leading probiotic research and development company from Sweden, and BiO-LiFE, a healthcare company in the fast growing Asian vitamin and dietary supplements category, signed a partnership agreement for the launch of a probiotic product in Malaysia during the second half of 2013, with the intention of expanding into other countries in South East Asia.

PROBI and BiO-LiFE have signed a longterm agreement to partner for the branding and launch of PROBI’s Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Probi Digestis®), a clinically documented probiotic product within the gastrointestinal field. BiO-LiFE will provide co-branding, product launch services, sales, marketing and technical services in the local market.

“BiO-LiFE is our partner of choice, thanks to brand longevity in a key Asian market and their deep industry expertise. The BiO-LiFE brand has a very successful track record of promoting clinically proven Probiotic supplements,” says Gun-Britt Fransson, Interim CEO, Probi. Visit: www.probi.se

LINKINGUP

New strategic partnership for Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise and TClarke

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise has announced a new strategic partnership with TClarke, one of the UK’s leading building services contractors, to offer an end-to-end voice and data solution as an integral part of TClarke’s Intelligent Buildings offering. In selling, servicing and supporting Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise solutions, TClarke will open up new opportunities within the building services market segment through its focus on the design, through to maintenance, of data centres.

TClarke’s Intelligent Buildings division delivers all of the IP-based ‘active’ systems that sit on the cabling within a building – from lighting control and CCTV to telephony and Audio Visual capabilities. All of these elements can contribute to a customer’s power consumption levels, and TClarke’s expertise in reducing emissions was a key element in the decision to partner with AlcatelLucent Enterprise based on this shared focus on lowering power consumption and overall TCO.

The new offering will also enable TClarke to better serve its customers throughout the entire project. The partnership will eliminate the common problem of having too many parties involved in a project and as such, will add a huge advantage to customers in making the entire design process, build and ongoing maintenance much simpler. Visit: www.alcatel-lucent.com

Aker Solutions acquires UK engineering company I.D.E.A.S

Aker Solutions has acquired UK specialist engineering company International Design Engineering And Services Ltd (I.D.E.A.S) to boost its asset integrity management services.

Glasgow, Scotland-based I.D.E.A.S. has developed software and technology that dramatically improves the quality and accuracy of integrity and lifetime analysis for oil and gas assets. The analysis can be applied in all phases of the development of an installation, from design through construction, operation and life extension.

“This technology strengthens our offering of asset integrity management services,” said Tore Sjursen, head of Aker Solutions’ maintenance and modifications business.

“It can be used to predict the lifetime of an installation in a more effective manner. It also helps us plan more targeted maintenance and inspection activities, and increases the quality and precision of our services,” said Sjursen.

Aker Solutions’ asset integrity management services include maintenance engineering, integrity management and advanced inspection and monitoring services, throughout the lifetime for all parts of an onshore or offshore installation. These services help clients reduce risk and increase utilisation of installations. Visit: www.akersolutions.com

BASF, Linde and ThyssenKrupp in research cooperation

BASF, The Linde Group and ThyssenKrupp plan to develop an environmentally friendly and competitive basis for utilising the climate gas carbon dioxide (CO2) on an industrial scale. They aim to employ innovative process technology to use carbon dioxide as a raw material, with positive effects on climate protection. Together with BASF’s subsidiary hte AG and scientific partners VDEh- Betriebsforschungsinstitut, Düsseldorf, and TU Dortmund University, the companies are developing a two-stage process.

In the first step, an innovative high-temperature technology will process natural gas to obtain hydrogen and carbon. The hydrogen is then reacted with large volumes of CO2, also from other industrial processes, to give syngas. A mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, syngas is a key raw material for the chemical industry and is also suitable for producing fuels. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is subsidising the project within its ‘Technologies for Sustainability and Climate Protection – Chemical Processes and Use of CO2’ scheme. The project started on 1 July 2013, and is expected to last three years. Visit: www.basf.com

DSM partners with ERDA in India

Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, announces it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Electrical Research & Development Association (ERDA), a cooperative research institution created by the Indian electrical industry and utilities, to cover basic research in the field of electrical applications.

Both organisations share a strong commitment to in-depth research by highly qualified people, and expect mutually beneficial collaboration across several disciplines.

DSM and ERDA will cooperate in three areas in particular: firstly, they will engage in joint development projects on various topics of mutual interest, focusing on new innovations and studies that can have a positive impact on the environment, performance and affordability; secondly, technology testing programs will be established to prove that materials meet application requirements; and finally, exchange programs will be set up to enhance the capabilities and knowledge of both organisations. Visit: www.dsm.com