Oil And Gas Divisions News

Highly automated, fully variable assembly process allows Cat to provide uniform service to a myriad of marine customers. But, MCOE is only one part of Cat’s new business strategy. In August of 2007, the first Cat marine engine left Caterpillar’s new Marine Center of Excellence (MCOE) in Greenville, South Carolina. In the ensuing years, countless engines have gone through the same process. Caterpillar Marine Power Systems brings together all the sales and service activities for Cat and MaK branded marine products within Caterpillar Inc. The organization provides marine power solutions (high and medium speed with outputs from 11 kW to 16,000 kW) and customer service from a single source for the global ocean-going, commercial and pleasure craft markets.

Norwegian industrialist Kjell Inge Roekke proposed merging his Aker firms with the shipbuilding and oil and gas divisions of Kvaerner on Wednesday to combat stiffening world competition. Aker forecast synergies from 2003 worth $89-$112 million, from the link-ups, the latest in a string of proposed ties between the two groups, which are struggling in a dwindling Norwegian oil and gas services market. "We expect that most of Kvaerner's shareholders will accept this," said Roekke, a billionaire investor whose interests range from fisheries to building oil platforms. Kvaerner welcomed proposed talks on shipbuilding but reacted frostily to the suggested tie-up in oil and gas, saying it would not help the company to meet future challenges. It said Aker over-estimated synergies.

Kvaerner beat market expectations with a jump in first-quarter profits, and the company reiterated opposition to a tie-up with Norwegian oil industry services rival Aker. Kvaerner, trying to recover from a wrenching 1999 restructuring, said pre-tax profits leapt to 151 million crowns ($16.66 million) in the quarter to March 31 from 10 million crowns in the same period of 2000. Net profits leapt to 110 million from 10 million. "We're not jumping for joy about it but with the starting point we've had this has to be a pleasant confirmation that we are on the right track," Chief Executive Kjell Almskog told a news conference. Operating profits…