News in Brief

Courtaulds is to double its protective coatings business in Germany by buying Ernst Platt Bochum Lack und Lackfarbenfabrik, a privately-held company based near Dusseldorf, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition boosts Courtaulds to third place in the German protective coatings market, and provides a strong base for further growth in Europe, the company says.

Royal Society calls for cash

British science needs an investment of some £110 million to replace outdated equipment in academic laboratories, according to Royal Society president Sir Aaron Klug. 'You can't go on patching and patching and deferring buying new pieces of equipment for ever. The time has come to speak out,' he said in his annual presidential address. Without this injection, he warned, British graduates would not have the skills which have attracted overseas companies to build plants in the UK.

Sweet project for Scottish Hydro

Scottish Hydro is to spend some £220 million on upgrading the Peterhead gas-fired power station. The station currently burns 'sour' hydrogen sulphide-laden gas; the improvements will allow it to switch to cleaner North Sea natural gas. This will boost the station's thermal efficiency from 38 per cent to 55 per cent, the company says.

Pfizer investment boosts jobs

USpharmaceuticals manufacturer Pfizer is to spend £109 million on an expansion to its medicines research centre in Sandwich, Kent. Supported by a £3 million DTI grant, the investment will create over 1000 new jobs.

Caterpillar buys Lucas unit

LucasVarity has sold a diesel engine manufacturing subsidiary, VerityPerkins, to USfirm Caterpillar for $1.3 billion. VarityPerkins makes medium-sized non-road diesel engines, for applications including construction, power generation, materials handling and agriculture.

'Enterprise Zone' to net firms

Small firms should sign up their websites for the government's 'Enterprise Zone', a DTI website, according to industry minister Barbara Roche.