In line with their “Strategy for Growth,” Michael Harwood, Managing Director of Lincoln Crankshaft & Machine (LC&M) is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Smith as Technical Sales Manager for all divisions of their business including Crankshaft, Shaft and Machining, Precision Forged Products, Crankshaft Refurbishment.

Mr Harwood says “In just seven years our company has grown from a £150,000 turnover to just under £10M last year, and had reached the stage where additional resource in the form of new equipment and highly technical personnel were needed. We invested almost £¾ million in our last financial year in new plant, with more to come this year and with Peter’s appointment, are nicely positioned to achieve our projected growth.”

Peter, married with three grown up children, is an incorporated engineer and qualified metallurgist and has spent most of his professional life in sales management positions for specialist manufacturing companies, working both in the UK and overseas. He enthuses “I’m looking forward to helping LC&M achieve greater success in the future and developing new markets both home and abroad for all products and services,” adding “It’s important we sustain our growth whilst maintaining our professional image.”

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, LC&M was borne out of the demise of Clarkes Crank & Forge, who had been supplying the marine, and more latterly power generation and locomotive industries with large crankshafts for almost 150 years. They are now the UK’s leading manufacturer of large capacity crankshafts, up to 11,000mm in length - from forging to finished component. They also specialise in the manufacture large capacity shafts for the turbine and compressor industries.

Last word from Mr Harwood, “We work hard at our business with 95% on our order intake coming from overseas and make no excuses for our intention to double our turnover in the next few years, and we’re not satisfied in just winning one Queens Award for International Trade – we want one every year!”

Martin Axelby – former Manager of OSD’s Canadian office in Calgary - has been promoted to General Manager, Queensland, Australia. The appointment will position OSD for the significant growth in the Queensland / Australian hydrocarbon sector, particularly with the upcoming CSG to LNG projects in this market.

Martin has over 20 years experience in the design and operation of pipelines and pipeline facilities. He has managed OSD’s Canadian office for two years, and has in this time developed and executed a number of pipeline projects in Canada and the United States. He has also provided pipeline services into Kurdistan, the former Soviet Union and the Middle East.

K-Master, Kongsberg Maritime's integrated aft bridge workstation has received a prestigious Award for Design Excellence from the Norwegian Design Council (NDC). The award was presented to Kongsberg Maritime on Wednesday 17th March 2010 during the NDC's annual Design Day event.

"We are honoured to have won this prestigious award," says Kongsberg Maritime project manager for K-Master, Thor Hukkelås. "With K-Master, we have developed a product that offers functional operation and high design values, so it has received attention beyond our traditional markets. The award reflects our commitment to modern design, aesthetics and innovation, while at the same time placing the end-user and operator in the driving seat."

The Award for Design Excellence is a leading award for design in Norway and is given to both manufacturers and designers that have cooperated on the development of products. The award is granted in recognition of the successful use of design as a strategic tool in product development and market communication. K-Master was one of the winners in the category for industrial design and was also one of four organisations nominated for the top Honours Award for Design Excellence. The jury issued the following statement about K-Master:

"Compared to similar products in the market, this represents an implementation of advanced functionality and user-centered interaction design that increases both efficiency and safety. The impression is of something robust and well-designed, with a high-quality finish on all surfaces. The innovation of the solution and the beneficial value of a simplified working situation for operators is obvious. This is a complete product that is professionally designed, both technically and aesthetically."

As one of the world leaders in integrated electronic solutions for professional vessels, Kongsberg Maritime supplies integrated control systems to merchant marine and offshore vessels in addition to platforms and rigs. The company's new K-Master aft bridge workstation is a complete and independent operating station for Offshore Service Vessels (OSV) that meets strict ergonomic considerations, whilst demonstrating Kongsberg Maritime's excellence in the field of navigation, maneuvering and automation. It was designed in conjunction with Norwegian industrial design company, Hareide Designmill and combines a strong industrial design ethic and an innovative user interface to create a brand new and groundbreaking Offshore Service Vessel workplace.

"Those who operate OSVs have an increasing number of instruments to consider, while the demands for safety and efficiency are increasing. Device errors or human errors can result in vessel damage, human injuries, and pollution or in the worst case, loss of life," continues Hukkelås. "The goal with K-Master was to change the focus away from boxes, systems and equipment to information and operation. The time limits have been short, but we have cooperated closely with the designers and found solutions that we knew would function onboard."

The Norwegian Design Council is a national strategic body for design in Norway, whose aim is to spread knowledge about the use of design within business development and innovation, and to build bridges between designers, business and public functions.

DuPont has announced the appointment of Hartmut Reinke as its Director for Middle East, Turkey and Africa. The move reinforces the leading science company’s commitment to further strengthening its presence in the Middle East through the deployment of key senior leadership and coming closer to customers in the region. Reinke is based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates [UAE].

Reinke joined DuPont in 1985 and has held various regional and global management positions in Product Management, R&D, Sales, Marketing, and Administration and has played a key role in spearheading strategic growth of DuPont in Germany, France, USA, Switzerland, and UAE. He brings in a wealth of experience served as DuPont’s Director for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa for three years.

“DuPont is a science company creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Our growth strategy for the long-term is based on major global trends taking place mostly driven by increasing global population. DuPont plans to capitalize on global growth opportunities by sharply focusing its innovation pipelines on four megatrends: to meet the increasing demand for food productivity; protect people and the environment; decrease dependence on fossil fuels; and capitalize on the growth of emerging markets where about one-third of DuPont’s sales are currently generated. I am very excited about prospects in the Middle East, an emerging market with immense potential.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

The Board of Directors of Keppel Corporation Limited wishes to announce that Mr Michael Chia, Deputy Chairman of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Keppel Integrated Engineering Limited (“KIE”), will be replacing Mr Chua Chee Wui as KIE’s Chief Executive Officer with effect from 13 January 2010. Mr Chua will be leaving the Group to seek new personal and professional opportunities.

Mr Tong Chong Heong, Chairman of KIE, said, “On behalf of the Board of Directors of KIE, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Chee Wui and wish him well for his future endeavours. He was instrumental in establishing KIE as a credible competitor in the international environmental solutions market, setting the foundation for future growth of Keppel's environmental business.

“We are confident that Michael, who has been with the Group for 29 years, will build on the momentum and grow KIE as a leading and choice environmental solutions provider.”

Mr Michael Chia, who will continue in his office as Deputy Chairman of KIE, is concurrently the Managing Director (Offshore) of Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited, the world leader in the design and construction of offshore rigs. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of Keppel FELS Limited with overall responsibility of the business management of the company. He has held other key appointments in corporate development, engineering, operations and commercial within the Keppel Offshore & Marine Group.

He has just been appointed as the Chairman of Singapore Maritime Foundation, a private sector-led organisation that seeks to develop and promote Singapore as an international Maritime Centre. He was the President of the Association of Singapore Marine Industries from 2005 to 2009, a non-profit association formed in 1968 to promote the interests of the marine industry in Singapore.