Effective immediately, the agreement for engineering design, project management, and environmental, health, safety and risk consultancy services covers a range of projects at Lucite International's Cassel Works.  From smaller scale plant modifications to major plant upgrades and debottlenecking activities, the projects are expected to require some 35,000 to 40,000 man hours per year. The duration of this agreement is initially for a minimum of three years - valued at GBP 3 million over this period - with the facility for further extension.

Lucite International's Cassel Works is a top tier COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards - ref. Note 4) site and is the largest monomer (methyl methacrylate) production facility in Europe. Lucite International is the world's leading producer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the only producer to have production facilities in the three major economic regions of Europe, Asia Pacific, and the US.

 "We are delighted to be working with Lucite International to support the continued life cycle of this strategic production facility in their portfolio," said Tony Jester, Operations Director at AK Engineering Services. "This important agreement builds upon the close collaboration we have established with Lucite International - having provided mechanical maintenance support, overhaul support, design and engineering services over the last five years, as well as working on projects such as the engineering, procurement, construction and project management (EPCM) for the MMA - Monomer 8 Project, and EPCM involvement on the more recent Seal Alliance Project with BASF. Our strong track record for consistent performance, engineering competence and efficient project execution remains our priority for the varied projects we will be handling under this new agreement."

This alliance agreement is one of several similar agreements Aker Kvaerner is currently fulfilling in Europe for companies such as General Electric and BASF.

ENDS

 

 

Sarah Weyell, Aker Kvaerner, Stockton-on-Tees, UK: +44 (0)1642 602221

1. AKER KVÆRNER ASA, through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Aker Kvaerner"), is a leading global provider of engineering and construction services, technology products and integrated solutions. The businesses within Aker Kvaerner span a number of industries, including Oil & Gas production, Refining & Chemicals, Mining & Metals, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology, Power Generation and Pulp & Paper. Aker Kvaerner has aggregated annual revenues of approximately USD 4.5 billion and employs around 21,000 employees in more than 30 countries.

The Aker Kvaerner group consists of a number of separate legal entities. Aker Kvaerner is used as the common brand/trademark for most of these entities. The parent company in the group is Aker Kværner ASA.

2. AK Engineering Services is the trading name of Aker Kvaerner Engineering Services Ltd., the legal entity responsible for the execution of the contract, and one of the core businesses of the Aker Kvaerner group in Europe.  It provides total asset life cycle solutions including conceptual design, engineering, procurement, project management, construction and commissioning, through to operation and maintenance services, modifications and process improvements.  Also offered are consultancy services in reliability, business modelling and environmental, health, safety and risk management.

3. A global manufacturer of intermediate chemicals and materials, Lucite International is the owner of the world-renowned Lucite® and Perspex(TM) brands, and has over 25% of the global methacrylates market with sales volumes over 850 kte (1.9 billion lbs). Annual turnover is circa USD 1 billion.
Brands include Lucite®, Perspex(TM), Diakon(TM), Elvacite(TM), Ultra(TM), ModenGlas®, Prismex®, Tufcoat(TM), Timberstone(TM), Asterite®, and Avron®.

MMA is the building block for many products. It polymerises easily to form resins and polymers of excellent transparency, strength and outdoor durability and can be co-polymerised with other monomers to form a broader range of products typically used for paints and coatings. It is also polymerized into a solid form for use in items such as vehicle tail lights, signs, point-of-sale displays, mirrors, baths, spas and work surfaces, blood cuvettes, computer housings and screens. Whilst there are many well-established uses for MMA, Lucite International is involved in new application innovation. The environmental trend to replace solvent-borne coatings in automotive OEM, vehicle refinish, residential and decorative paints is an ideal platform for methacrylates.

4. *The European Seveso II Directive, implemented in the UK as COMAH, aims to prevent major industrial accidents involving dangerous substances and to limit the consequences to people and the environment of any accidents that do occur. Regulators are now obliged to close down chemical plants that fail to comply with the new legislation.

Operators of COMAH Top Tier Sites will be required to produce a COMAH Safety Case and a Major Accident Prevention Policy (MAPP). Aker Kvaerner's EHS & Risk Consultancy can assist at all stages of COMAH Safety Case Preparation and Action Plan follow up. COMAH safety reports are public domain documents and operators are also obliged to test their internal and external emergency plans.

This press release may include forward-looking information or statements and is subject to our disclaimer, see our web-pages www.akerkvaerner.com