Kvaerner buys Swiss catalysis technology contractor
15 Jan 2000
Anglo-Norwegian contracting giant Kvaerner has bolstered its position in the European fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals business by buying Buss Chemical Process Systems, a process technology and engineering group based in Basle.
Buss CPS part of the Georg Fischer corporation specialises in supplying plant for high-performance catalysed reactions, and is specifically known for reactor design. Of particular interest to Kvaerner is the Buss Loop Reactor already in use for more than 500 reactions and process technologies for phosgene, fluorine compounds and aluminium. Buss CPSgenerates annual turnover of some £20million, and has 70 employees at its Basle headquarters.
Kvaerner intends to incorporate Buss CPSinto its technology division; the company has already committed $16million to strengthening this division with a new technology centre at Stockton-on-Tees, scheduled to open this July.
'The acquisition of Buss PSis a welcome opportunity to add value to our business activities and to advance developments in new technologies,' explains Kvaerner Process president David Moorhouse.
The company hopes that the Buss's reactor design and its own catalyst application and process development capabilities will form a potent combination which will help it crack the European drugs industry market. 'The addition of an established base in Switzerland will provide a significant opportunity for our pharmaceutical business to grow local technical consulting activities. We are hoping that by combining the strengths of Buss CPS with global resources of the Kvaerner Group we will provide and enhanced service to our customers,' Moorhouse comments.
