Simtronics gear tested by harsh environment

Its first year as an independent company was "fantastic and eventful", says CEO Rune Martini of Simtronics, the Norwegian fire and gas safety company.

Following its spinoff from Simrad Optronics in 2007, the company was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in January.

The global provider of gas and flame detection systems has established itself as a major force in the market as it continues to expand into new segments with a broader range of products.

"We established the name Simtronics in 2006 and have since experienced strong organic growth all the while maintaining profitability, says Martini. "The business has developed very well. Now everyone in the market knows who we are and what we can do."

Dating back to 1948 when it was a subsidiary of Simrad Optronics, a major Norwegian defense contractor in electro-optical equipment, Simtronics has a strong background in technology with defense applications. Its products benefited significantly from research and development of military technology and expertise.

That heritage, combined with the high requirements in the Norwegian oil sector and the harsh climate, has led to highly advanced detection systems.

"We comply with the highest standards. Norway is the most demanding market in the world, which is why we will benefit when we go global with these systems. Our detectors are small and lightweight but built for extremely rough conditions. You can see the difference in the design," says Martini.

With the acquisition of Walter Mist Engineering (WME), the Simtronics group expanded its business scope from detection to fire extinguishing, becoming a supplier of a complete range of fire protection equipment.

The gradual integration of WME into the company has emphasized suppression systems and specialized low-pressure solutions. Considerable synergies have been created, particularly in distribution power and engineering capabilities, Martini says.

"Today we are a company that can deliver a total solution for fire and gas safety. We can offer our customers a single package and be a total supplier for fire and gas safety rather than just detection systems," says CEO Rune Martini of Simtronics.

Available worldwide, Simtronics detection equipment and solutions are supported by regional sales offices in Norway, France and the Middle East. The company says safety, reliability and low life cycle cost characterize its product line.

With an 80 percent market share in gas and flame detectors used by the North Sea offshore industry, Simtronics' detectors represent the most reliable and robust safety technology available.

In addition to the oil and gas industry, the highly advanced detectors are used in other sectors including shipping, petrochemicals and mining.

"What is unique about our detectors is that we can guarantee the calibration for up to 15 years. Our competition requires you to go in and re-calibrate the detector every three or five months. Even if our detectors cost more, the lifetime cost is unique. There is no service or maintenance cost and safety is not compromised. We have produced and delivered over 50,000 of these detectors and we have never had a false alarm," says Martini.

A considerable increase in sales and project activities has been recorded in Asia, particularly in Singapore and China.

As Simtronics enters new market segments, a high priority will be given to creating subsidiaries in Singapore and China. Martini foresees unlimited potential in Asia, citing the maritime and mining industry as their main focus.

"We will use our subsidiary in Singapore as a hub in Asia and gradually increase the volume over time. We also have plans to manufacture in China. We will be a sub supplier to the yards as well as a key supplier to the power plants built in China. We have a lot to contribute to the Chinese market," says Martini.

www.simtronics.eu

(China Daily 04/14/2008 page25)