NEWS
Combining strengths
Aprilia Racing and Gulf aim for the top in MotoGP P iaggio Group’s technical flagship, Aprilia Racing, joins forces with global lubricant icon Gulf, in a multi-year partnership deal for the world’s top motorbike racing championship. After two years working together in global motorcycle racing’s upper echelons – in the World Superbike Championship arena - the iconic Gulf brand and Aprilia Racing marque continue to make concerted progress together, making the step up into the pinnacle of motorbike racing, MotoGP, thanks to a new multi-year partnership.
“The opportunity to move up into MotoGP, as a major partner of Aprilia Racing was a logical next step forward after World Superbikes,” explains Gulf Vice President International, Frank Rutten. “Aprilia is one of the most successful racing marques of all time while Gulf, of course, has a long history of success in motorsport. Making the move up to Grand Prix racing with a manufacturer that we know matches our ethos of quality, endurance and passion and our desire for progress.” Visit: www.aprilia.com
Dassault Systèmes and ABB enter global software partnership for digital industries
A
BB and Dassault Systèmes have announced a wide spanning global partnership to offer customers in digital industries a unique software solutions portfolio ranging from product life cycle management to asset health solutions. The
two companies will provide customers an endto-end offering of advanced open digital solutions, enhancing competitiveness of industrial companies, while increasing flexibility, speed and productivity of their products’ lifecycles, manufacturing and operations. The partnership will combine the strengths of ABB Ability™ digital solutions and Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and build on both companies’ strong installed base, deep domain expertise and global customer access. ABB has already adopted the 3DEXPERIENCE
platform to model and simulate its solutions before delivering them to its customers. With this partnership, ABB will develop and provide customers with advanced digital twins, enabling customers to run ABB’s solutions and their operations with improved overall efficiency, flexibility and sustainability. The companies will, in a staged approach, focus on factory automation and robotics, process industry automation, as well as electrification solutions for smart buildings. Visit: www.new.abb.com
Bridgestone Europe completes acquisition of TomTom Telematics B ridgestone Europe NV/SA , a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation in EMEA, the world’s largest tyre and rubber company, has completed the acquisition of TomTom Telematics (Telematics), the leading provider of digital fleet solutions in Europe, for €910 million. First announced on 22 January 2019, the acquisition has now passed the relevant regulatory stages, had full approval from TomTom’s shareholders, and received a positive response from TomTom’s works council.
Bp, Virent and Johnson Matthey partner on production of bio-based paraxylene
BP
, Virent Inc. and Johnson Matthey (JM) have signed an agreement that will further advance the commercialization of Virent’s Bioforming® process for production of bio-paraxylene (PX), a key raw material for the production of renewable polyester. Virent’s Bioforming® technology, which is being developed
18 Industry Europe
The acquisition builds on previous work at Bridgestone to strengthen its digital capabilities. Telematics, the number one in Europe in a double-digit growth industry, fits Bridgestone strategically and gives it a reinforced footprint in mobility solutions that make fleet operations more effective and efficient. Telematics will operate within Bridgestone as a standalone business while taking advantage of the strong brand equity, large customer base, global reach and retail network of Bridgestone.
with JM, produces drop-in reformate product from renewable sources that can be used to produce renewable fuels and also processed into lower carbon intensive bio-PX, the feedstock for bio- purified terephthalic acid (PTA), using existing technologies. As part of this agreement, the parties will work together to commercialise the BioForming® technology – BP will contribute technical
Its management team remains unchanged as a result of the deal and will draw on Bridgestone’s investments and capabilities to accelerate the current growth plans in Europe and other regions around the world where Telematics is present. Visit: www.bridgestone.eu
resources and has exclusive rights to negotiate becoming the sole manufacturer of bio-PX using Virent’s technology. Visit: www.bp.com
