- Email: [email protected]
Strong 2003 for Lectra
UMECO makes a bid for ACG UMECO PLC, a UK-based provider of services and materials to the aerospace and defence industries, is proposing to acquire the Advanced Composites Group (ACG), Heanor, UK. The acquisition involves a total cash consideration of £44.25 million. ACG supplies high performance composite materials to the motorsport, automotive, aerospace, defence and other industries. It also has operations in Oklahoma, USA. For the year ended 31 August 2003, ACG reported operating profit of £3.8 million on turnover of £34.7 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed in May. ACG would form a substantial part of UMECO’s Composites Division. UMECO is currently managed through three divisions: Components; Chemicals (to be renamed Composites following the acquisition of ACG); and Repair and Overhaul. It had
turnover of approximately £181.1 million for year ended 31 March 2003. “ACG is a well established, premium margin business with an experienced management team, and will significantly increase UMECO’s presence in the fast-growing market for advanced composites,” stated Clive Snowdon, chief executive of UMECO. “The acquisition represents an important step forward for UMECO. It gives the enlarged Group an excellent strategic balance between two growth activities: on the one hand, value-added distribution services to the aerospace and defence industries in which we have an established leading position and, on the other, the high margin advanced composites industry in which we have been developing a focused presence since 1999.” UMECO plc; website: www. umeco.com; ACG; website: www. acg.co.uk.
Fulcrum spun off DOW CHEMICAL has divested its FULCRUM thermoplastic composite business into a new company called Fulcrum Composites Inc. Dow has acquired a minority equity position in the new business. The Fulcrum technology enables the production of continuous fibre composites using a thermoplastic matrix. It was developed at Dow based on a pultrusion process using Dow resins. Fulcrum Composites has acquired all physical and intellectual assets of the Fulcrum technology, including manufacturing facilities at the National Composites Centre in Dayton, Ohio, USA, and
10
REINFORCEDplastics
patents, trademarks and commercial agreements. Chris Edwards, formerly the Dow business manager for Fulcrum technology, has resigned from Dow to become the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Fulcrum Composites Inc. Fulcrum applications under development include ski poles, agricultural equipment, rigging and tensile elements, tool handles, refrigerator components and ladder rail. Chris Edwards, Fulcrum Composites Inc; tel: +1-989-6361025; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www. fulcrumcomposites.com.
April 2004
A united Europe? THE EUROPEAN composites association GPRMC (Groupement Européen des Plastiques Renforcés/Matériaux Composites) created in 1960 has been made into a non-profit association named the EuCIA (European Composites Industry Association). This change into a legal entity is expected to make it easier for the organisation to work at a European level and to participate in certain projects funded by European institutions. The aim is to unite the composites industry at a European level. The launch of the composites ‘Green Label’ and the creation of the European composites recycling service company ECRC are examples of the type of work EuCIA hopes to continue. It
will represent the industry’s interests on new European Directives and standards. EuCIA aims to ask composites manufacturers in countries that are soon join the European Union (EU) to create their own national composites associations so that they can take part in EuCIA’s work. It will also encourage EU member states which have no national composites association to establish one. As well as these national associations, EuCIA will accept as members those associations which represent a specific segment of the composites industry. These include the European Pultrusion Industry Association (EPTA) and the European Alliance for SMC. EuCIA; e-mail: gustaaf.bos@ agoria.be; website: www.eucia.org.
Tough year for LM
Strong 2003 for Lectra
FOR DANISH supplier of wind turbine blades LM Glasfiber, 2003 was a difficult year. The company saw revenues fall 40% from 2002’s figure to DKr1710 million. The group posted a net loss of around DKr264 million in 2003, compared with a profit of DKr11 million in 2002. LM predicts a flat wind energy market this year and growth of only 0-5%, but with large regional differences. It expects a much smaller market in North America and a continuing decline in Germany and Denmark, but growth for the markets in Southern Europe, Asia and some in Northern Europe. For 2004, LM forecasts a 17-23% increase in revenue to achieve DKr2000-2100 million. LM Glasfiber; website: www. lm.dk.
LECTRA, a manufacturer of software and cutting systems for industrial fabrics and composite materials, recorded 2003 revenues of 184.7 million and net income of 7.4 million, both up on 2002. In 2003, Lectra says it widened its lead over its main competitor, US-based Gerber Technology, with the acquisition of Investronica Sistemas of Spain. It expects 2004 revenues to reach 230-250 million. With headquarters in Paris, Lectra generates nearly 90% of its revenues outside of France. It recently opened a technology centre in Shanghai to present its technologies to Asian companies. Lectra has just launched two new VectorComposite models (Reinforced Plastics, March 2004, page 33). Lectra; website: www.lectra. com.
turnover of approximately £181.1 million for year ended 31 March 2003. “ACG is a well established, premium margin business with an experienced management team, and will significantly increase UMECO’s presence in the fast-growing market for advanced composites,” stated Clive Snowdon, chief executive of UMECO. “The acquisition represents an important step forward for UMECO. It gives the enlarged Group an excellent strategic balance between two growth activities: on the one hand, value-added distribution services to the aerospace and defence industries in which we have an established leading position and, on the other, the high margin advanced composites industry in which we have been developing a focused presence since 1999.” UMECO plc; website: www. umeco.com; ACG; website: www. acg.co.uk.
Fulcrum spun off DOW CHEMICAL has divested its FULCRUM thermoplastic composite business into a new company called Fulcrum Composites Inc. Dow has acquired a minority equity position in the new business. The Fulcrum technology enables the production of continuous fibre composites using a thermoplastic matrix. It was developed at Dow based on a pultrusion process using Dow resins. Fulcrum Composites has acquired all physical and intellectual assets of the Fulcrum technology, including manufacturing facilities at the National Composites Centre in Dayton, Ohio, USA, and
10
REINFORCEDplastics
patents, trademarks and commercial agreements. Chris Edwards, formerly the Dow business manager for Fulcrum technology, has resigned from Dow to become the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Fulcrum Composites Inc. Fulcrum applications under development include ski poles, agricultural equipment, rigging and tensile elements, tool handles, refrigerator components and ladder rail. Chris Edwards, Fulcrum Composites Inc; tel: +1-989-6361025; e-mail: [email protected]; website: www. fulcrumcomposites.com.
April 2004
A united Europe? THE EUROPEAN composites association GPRMC (Groupement Européen des Plastiques Renforcés/Matériaux Composites) created in 1960 has been made into a non-profit association named the EuCIA (European Composites Industry Association). This change into a legal entity is expected to make it easier for the organisation to work at a European level and to participate in certain projects funded by European institutions. The aim is to unite the composites industry at a European level. The launch of the composites ‘Green Label’ and the creation of the European composites recycling service company ECRC are examples of the type of work EuCIA hopes to continue. It
will represent the industry’s interests on new European Directives and standards. EuCIA aims to ask composites manufacturers in countries that are soon join the European Union (EU) to create their own national composites associations so that they can take part in EuCIA’s work. It will also encourage EU member states which have no national composites association to establish one. As well as these national associations, EuCIA will accept as members those associations which represent a specific segment of the composites industry. These include the European Pultrusion Industry Association (EPTA) and the European Alliance for SMC. EuCIA; e-mail: gustaaf.bos@ agoria.be; website: www.eucia.org.
Tough year for LM
Strong 2003 for Lectra
FOR DANISH supplier of wind turbine blades LM Glasfiber, 2003 was a difficult year. The company saw revenues fall 40% from 2002’s figure to DKr1710 million. The group posted a net loss of around DKr264 million in 2003, compared with a profit of DKr11 million in 2002. LM predicts a flat wind energy market this year and growth of only 0-5%, but with large regional differences. It expects a much smaller market in North America and a continuing decline in Germany and Denmark, but growth for the markets in Southern Europe, Asia and some in Northern Europe. For 2004, LM forecasts a 17-23% increase in revenue to achieve DKr2000-2100 million. LM Glasfiber; website: www. lm.dk.
LECTRA, a manufacturer of software and cutting systems for industrial fabrics and composite materials, recorded 2003 revenues of 184.7 million and net income of 7.4 million, both up on 2002. In 2003, Lectra says it widened its lead over its main competitor, US-based Gerber Technology, with the acquisition of Investronica Sistemas of Spain. It expects 2004 revenues to reach 230-250 million. With headquarters in Paris, Lectra generates nearly 90% of its revenues outside of France. It recently opened a technology centre in Shanghai to present its technologies to Asian companies. Lectra has just launched two new VectorComposite models (Reinforced Plastics, March 2004, page 33). Lectra; website: www.lectra. com.