Dürr strengthens test systems for the automotive industry

02/21/2001

• Joint Venture Schenck Pegasus with British Systems Developer Ricardo plc
• Use of know-how of the engine and transmission development for optimized test systems
• Strategic extension in the supply of systems for vehicle development

The technology group Dürr of Stuttgart has formed through its subsidiary company Schenck Pegasus, Darmstadt, a joint venture with the British Ricardo plc, Shoreham-by-sea, Great Britain and thus strengthened its position in technology and market as supplier of test and development systems for vehicle and component development.

The Ricardo Group (Ricardo plc) quoted at London Stock Exchange is an internationally leading specialist in the development of engines, transmissions, vehicles and vehicle electronics. Schenck Pegasus, a company of Carl Schenck AG which was taken over by Dürr in spring 2000, is a global leader in the supply of test and automation technology.

"With the joint venture Dürr obtains direct access to know-how from the engine development. This know-how forms a perfect basis for the further development of Schenck test systems. Additionally, Schenck and Ricardo are in a position to offer the automotive industry complete test centers from design and erection to operation. Thus, we enhance our scope of supply as to the wishes of our customers of the automotive industry and strengthen our worldwide leading position in the test and automation technology", says Frank Haun, Member of the Management Boards of both Carl Schenck AG and of Dürr AG.

The new joint venture Schenck Ricardo Systems Ltd. having its company seat in Worcester, Great Britain, will be operated under the entrepreneurial leadership of Schenck Pegasus (Schenck holding a 70 % stake). The joint venture will use global development resources of Schenck and Ricardo and besides a new automation platform offer new products over the worldwide Schenck sales organization. The formation of the joint venture is part of the Dürr strategy to extend Dürr's range of systems to further important stages in the value chain of automobile manufacturing by developing further technological capabilities.

According to further agreements Schenck will take over from Ricardo plc the subsidiary Ricardo Test Automation Ltd. (RTA), Worcester, GB. RTA develops and manufactures automotive testing tools and systems and achieved with 70 employees a turnover of approx. Euro 12 m in the fiscal year 2000.

The technology group Dürr is a world leader in the supply of production systems and peripheric services to the automotive industry. Under the roof of the strategic management holding Dürr AG, six business units Paint Systems, Automotion, Environmental, Ecoclean, Services, INTX and the Schenck Group with their operating subsidiaries are active in more than 20 countries all over the world. For the year 2000 Dürr expects a turnover of approx. Euro 1.9 bn and a proportionally growing result in a two-digit area.