Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Smiths Group News

17 Jun 2022

James Fisher Names Vernet CEO

(File photo: James Fisher)

U.K.-based marine services company James Fisher and Sons plc announced it has appointed Jean Vernet as chief executive officer.He will take up this position on September 5, 2022, succeeding Eoghan O’Lionaird who will step down from his position on the board and as CEO. O’Lionaird will  remain employed by the group until June 13, 2023, to ensure a smooth and effective transition of responsibility.Vernet has considerable experience working in the offshore energy sector in both the U.K. and around the world. Most recently, he was CEO of Smiths Group’s largest division, John Crane.

29 Jun 2017

HENSOLDT Acquires Kelvin Hughes

Image: Kelvin Hughes

Kelvin Hughes has been acquired by HENSOLDT (formerly Airbus Defense Electronics) as a result of an agreement by its owners ECI Partners to sell its investment in the company. “Following the buyout from Smiths Group, ECI has been a consistent and supportive partner as we have consolidated our position as a global leader in surveillance and security radar solutions,” said Kelvin Hughes CEO, Russell Gould. Completion of the transaction remains subject to regulatory clearances. HENSOLDT, an independent sensor house, is a provider of radar and IFF systems on airborne, naval and land platforms.

21 Nov 2001

Wärtsilä in Talks to Acquire John Crane-Lips

In a move aimed at extending its claim as a single source ship's propulsion supplier, Wärtsilä Corporation and Smiths Group are in exclusive discussions regarding a possible sale by Smiths Group of John Crane-Lips to Wärtsilä. Wärtsilä and John Crane-Lips entered into a strategic alliance in October 2000 to provide total marine propulsion power systems through the Wärtsilä network. The acquisition of John Crane Lips is seen as a valued enhancement to Wärtsilä's position as a leading global ship power supplier. The acquisition would generate additional sales of more than EUR 200 million for the Marine & Licensing division of Wärtsilä. John Crane-Lips is a supplier of integrated marine propulsion systems and marine seals and bearings.

15 Apr 2004

Smiths Group Expands Security Presence

Buys US hazardous material detection specialist for $75M Smiths Group is acquiring the business and assets of SensIR Technologies LLC, a manufacturer of infrared-based analysers, for a total of $75 million (£41m). The newly acquired business will add significantly to the range of technologies and equipment of Smiths Detection, one of the company's four operating divisions. "The second acquisition for Smiths Detection this year is a further step in building a technology-led business to serve the diverse detection market," commented Keith Butler-Wheelhouse, chief executive of Smiths Group. SensIR supplies analysers for the identification of potentially hazardous substances in solid and liquid form.

30 Jan 2002

Wärtsilä Acquires John Crane-Lips

John Crane-Lips will become part of Wärtsilä following the signing of the sale and purchase agreement between Wärtsilä and John Crane-Lips´ UK-based parent Smiths Group. The transaction enhances Wärtsilä's position as a global ship power supplier and provider of integrated propulsion systems. The acquisition price is approximately $304 million. in the financial year ending July 31, 2001, with their net assets totaling $73 million. The acquisition of John Crane-Lips, which will operate within Wärtsilä under the name Wärtsilä Propulsion, marks an important step towards our strategic goal to lead the ship power market. The acquisition will be earnings neutral and cash flow positive in the first year, stated Wärtsilä's President and CEO Ole Johansson.

15 Apr 2002

Wärtsilä takes ownership of John Crane-Lips

Wärtsilä and the UK-based Smiths Group have on April 15, 2002 completed the agreement transferring John Crane-Lips, a leading global supplier of marine propulsion systems, to Wärtsilä. The agreement was signed at the end of January, 2002. In the regulatory approval process no obstacles for the acquisition have arisen. The acquisition price is GBP 215 million (EUR 350 million). The acquisition of John Crane-Lips marks an important step towards Wärtsilä´s strategic goal to lead the ship power market. The company will be part of Wärtsilä's Marine Division under the name Wärtsilä Propulsion. Mr. Christoph Vitzthum, MSc(Econ), currently Vice President, Finance & Control of Wärtsilä Marine Division, has been appointed President of Wärtsilä Propulsion.

20 Feb 2001

Plug & Play

Cruise lines, perhaps more than any other segment of the shipping market, have eagerly adopted advanced integrated bridge systems to help protect not only passenger, crews and reputations, but also the more than half-billion dollar homes within which they reside. Furuno's Integrated Bridge System, dubbed Voyager has been designed to achieve total integration of bridge equipment and information in accordance with the One Man Bridge Operation (OMBO). All components come from a single source, Furuno. Complying with the latest performance standards of IMO and IEC, the ECDIS displays and ENC vector charts make for easy route planning and route monitoring.

06 Sep 2007

Marine equipment makes waves at OTE

James Rall, of Hydroacustics Inc., of New York, explains uses for the Proteus ROV roaming ocean vehicle, used for exploration with cameras and lights. The ROV is controlled by a joystick. PROVIDENCE — Jason Cedro clicked on a computer mouse at the Rhode Island Convention Center yesterday and on the screen appeared a live, gull’s-eye view of Narragansett Bay, from a camera perched miles to the south at Beavertail State Park, in Jamestown. He clicked again to order the camera, by wireless connection, to pan the Bay, then focus more closely on a power boat motoring across the water beneath a blue sky. From the same screen, Cedro was also able to obtain a live view of the Bay’s activity from Prudence Island, another from the area around the Pell Bridge in Newport.

09 Nov 2007

ECI Acquires Kelvin Hughes

ECI Partners LLP (“ECI”), the UK mid-market buyout specialist, has acquired Kelvin Hughes in a $109.3m transaction out of Smiths Group plc, the UK listed technology company. Kelvin Hughes is a leading supplier of navigation products and services for the Naval and Commercial marine sectors. The purchase price comprises $100.9m which was paid in cash on completion of the purchase and a deferred payment of up to $8.4m depending on certain conditions being satisfied. Senior members of Kelvin Hughes management invested alongside ECI, becoming shareholders in the business. Kelvin Hughes has a highly innovative product range, which is designed to provide mariners with the most advanced navigation systems and services available.

16 May 2007

Gould Named Managing Director of Kelvin Hughes

Russell Gould has been appointed managing director of Kelvin Hughes Ltd, part of the Specialty Engineering Division of Smiths Group plc. Russell joined Kelvin Hughes in 1985 as a graduate engineer responsible for the development of new navigation products. In 1995 he became head of radar techniques and was appointed engineering and operations director in 2001. For the past 5 years he has been the Company's commercial business director.

08 Aug 2001

Chartco: The Best of Both Worlds

Created just three years ago, Chartco embraces a small company's flexibility and innovative attitude but is supported by a big company bankroll. Dr. Andy Norris, Chartco's managing director, recently spent some time with MR/EN to discuss the present and future of electronic charts. The realization of electronic charts replacing their paper brethren has been slow in coming, to say the least. For a number of technical, political and economic reasons, the fight to develop and implement a universally acceptable solution and standard has yet to be accomplished. This is not to say, though, that tremendous strides have not been taken, as the quantity and quality of electronic charting products and systems has grown exponentially in recent years. Despite the numerous stops and starts, Dr.

04 Jun 2001

New Managing Director at Kelvin Hughes

Kelvin Hughes has appointed Ron Nailer as the new managing director of Kelvin Hughes Ltd., succeeding Dr. Martin Jones, who has returned to the parent company - Smiths Group Plc head office - to pursue his responsibilities as director of Technology and Innovation of Smiths' Industrial Group. Nailer leaves his current post as divisional managing director for the Dowty aviation support and electronics distribution companies, which Smiths acquired via its merger with TI last year.

10 Apr 2003

New Head of Kelvin Hughes Chart Services

Dr. Yiorgos Palierakis has been appointed as director of Charts and Maritime Services, Kelvin Hughes, part of Smiths Marine Systems. He will be based at the London headquarters of Kelvin Hughes. Yiorgos was born and educated in Greece and gained a PhD and an MBA from Bradford University. He is succeeding Roger Gibson who after 23 years with Kelvin Hughes is embarking on a lifetime voyage on board his yacht “Antigua Kiss”. Yiorgos is assuming responsibility of the Charts & Maritime Services Division as this world leading supplier of charts, publications and associated services is rapidly moving into a digital era. His brief is to accelerate the expansion of Kelvin Hughes’ well known services in navigation data as well as its e-business platform of bookharbour.com.