Applus+ continues its expansion
05/01/2012
Applus+, the global inspection, testing, certification and quality control company, and one of the ten largest companies in the conformity assessment sector worldwide, has reached an agreement for the acquisition of the US company Kiefner & Associates, representing a new step in its expansion within the country.Founded in 1990, Kiefner & Associates provides its customers with engineering services primarily associated with the oil & gas pipeline industry, focusing on working closely with pipeline owners to operate their facilities safely and reliably. Kiefner & Associates offers a wide array of engineering services, including failure analysis and fitness for service.
The company, based in Worthington (Ohio), has 20 engineers with extensive experience in this sector and who are highly qualified in the areas of pipeline materials and integrity analysis. Kiefner has developed a national reputation as being the established leader in pipeline failure analysis. The company has an 8,000 square foot climate-controlled laboratory focused on evaluating materials and components on their failure modes. This places it as one of the best-qualified companies to solve pipeline problems.
In the words of the Applus+ CEO, Fernando Basabe: “The acquisition of Kiefner & Associates represents a new breakthrough for Applus RTD – our non-destructive testing division – in the integrity assessment sector for the oil & gas pipeline industry, in the extremely strategic market that is the United States. Kiefner’s vast experience and excellent positioning in the energy sector will undoubtedly imply added value for the multinational in the country.”
Iain Light, Executive Vice President of Applus RTD, stated: “The acquisition of Kiefner and Associates further strengthens our asset integrity and engineering services for the pipeline industry and is also a positive step forward in developing our engineering and asset integrity services for the offshore and power industries.” He continued: “We will now leverage the experience of Kiefner as part of our global strategy to enhance our position as the leading provider of advanced services and NDT techniques to this sector.”
The integration of the US company into Applus+ will give a new impetus to the expansion plans of both the group and its Applus RTD division, expanding its range of services in integrity analysis management. Currently, Applus+ has 35 offices in the United States, where it operates through its Applus RTD, Applus+ IDIADA, Applus+ AUTO and Applus+ Velosi divisions.
