NORWAY'S international ship supply specialist Unitor has become the market leader in the marine fire protection systems market with its takeover of the Ginge-Kerr Group.
Unitor has acquired all shares in Ginge-Kerr from Canadian engineering company SNC-Lavalin.
The Ginge-Kerr Group is a major supplier of fire protection systems to the world's marine, offshore and industrial markets.
Sales from the Ginge-Kerr Group for this year are expected to total 175 million kroner (about HK$199 million).
Manufacture of Ginge-Kerr fire protection systems, mainly carried out by sub-contractors, will now be transferred to the recently acquired company Svenska Skum and Unitor's own production systems, reducing costs.
''Due to the phasing out of halon as a fire extinguishing medium, in combination with new regulations for fire precautions and protection on passenger vessels and cargo ships, substantial expansion will be experienced in the fire protection market in the coming years,'' said Unitor's managing director Karsten Houm.