ÅF secures record Euro 10 million order in South Africa

Aug 28, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. ÅF has received a major order for engineering, procurement and construction management services in a pulp project from the South African based forest industry group Sappi. The order is worth approximately SEK 90 million for ÅF (almost Euro 10 million). This makes the order one of the largest ever secured by the ÅF Group. The ÅF Group (via its process division) has won the order together with its well established local partner in South Africa, Murray & Roberts Engineering Solutions (Pty) Limited. Sappi plans to increase the production of chemical cellulose at its Saiccor facility. (Also sometimes known as "dissolving pulp", it is used in a wide range of products including textiles, food, chemicals and plastics.) Sappi Saiccor is located at Umkomaas, 40 km south of Durban in the Republic of South Africa, and is one of the largest producers of dissolving pulp in the world. Together with Murray & Roberts Engineering Solutions, ÅF will be responsible for provision of engineering, procurement and construction management services (EPCM) relating to the expansion of the facility. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2008. At least ten ÅF employees will be stationed in South Africa for the duration of the project. In addition, a large number of ÅF employees from offices in Sweden and Finland will also be actively involved in the project. The ÅF Group is a leader in technical consulting, with expertise founded on more than a century of experience. It offers highly qualified services and solutions for industrial processes, infrastructure projects and the development of products and IT systems. It’s also one of the leading names in testing and inspection. Today the ÅF Group has more than 3 500 employees.