New Acquisitions & DM55 Million Contract Wins
Babcock International Group PLC
31 January 2000
BABCOCK ANNOUNCES ACQUISITIONS, ALONG WITH
DM55M CONTRACT WINS
The Engineering Services Division of Babcock International
Group, the international engineering services group, has
acquired Tyneside based Armstrong Technology to help
complement its business in Rosyth. The business is one of the
UK's leading naval architecture and marine engineering design
consultants.
Babcock also announced the acquisition of a patented Radio
Frequency (RF) veneer drying technology from Production
Machinery Inc. (PMI) located in Oregon, USA, by BMH AKI
Dryers, one of the world's leading companies in drying
technology. The two acquisitions, which total approx. £1.7m,
come hot on the heels of major contract wins through its BMH
Division, a world leader in the field of material processing
technologies and engineered systems. The orders, valued at
DM55m, were won by BMH Americas (USA) and BMH Marine (Sweden).
They include a major gypsum technology plant for Lafarge, USA,
a port terminal project in France and a shipunloader in
Australia.
ARMSTRONG TECHNOLOGY
Armstrong Technology, which is one of the UK's leading naval
architecture and marine engineering design consultants, was
created in 1994 from the original design team at Swan Hunter
Shipbuilders. Armstrong has developed significantly to secure
a substantial client base throughout the marine industry.
Armstrong will continue to be based at Newcastle at the Centre
for Advanced Industry on Tyneside.
Utilising the considerable experience of its 34 employees, the
company provides diverse and innovative technical support to
the defence, marine and offshore sectors. Armstrong's
capabilities, combined with the naval, engineering and
consultancy business of the Rosyth Dockyard, generates
excellent synergies and unrivalled marine technology expertise
in the UK.
With Rosyth's demonstrable activity in nuclear services,
submarine and surface warship technology, this acquisition
will both benefit a wide range of external clients and enhance
the development of Rosyth into a broad based Support Services
business.
Murray Easton, Managing Director of BES, commenting on the
acquisition, said that 'Armstrong would provide a range of
experience in naval, merchant and offshore design and
engineering which will complement the Rosyth engineering
services in a unique way, thereby creating tremendous
development opportunities. It will also provide a technology
resource to facilitate Rosyth's development and offer support
services to the offshore and merchant fleets alongside that of
naval, in both UK and overseas'.
RADIO FREQUENCY VENEER DRYING TECHNOLOGY
The drying technology is a new and innovative approach to
drying high value veneers used in door and trim facings, as
well as facing for cabinetry and similar engineered panel
based veneer laminates.
This patented technology, which combines modern RF technology
with a conveying dryer, will enhance BMH AKI's presence in the
wood veneers drying equipment market. Customers will see
smaller capital expense compared to other technologies
performing the same production level. By offering the new RF
drying system, BMH AKI will be able to enter the high value
veneers markets in both softwood and hardwood with a drying
method that is proven to produce quality veneers with little
or no product loss.
Joseph Potter, Managing Director of BMH AKI commented that,
'the addition of RF drying technology enhances our existing
panel drying expertise and strengthens our market position in
the wood veneer market'.
Enquiries
Ginny Pulbrook or Oskar Yasar
Citigate Dewe Rogerson - 0171 638 9571
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