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Lloyd's Register unveils refreshed brand identity

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 09 December 2013 09 December 2013

Lloyd’s Register (LR) today unveiled a refreshed brand identity, with the introduction of a new logo that celebrates the culture of innovation built over the company’s 253-year history.

LR has undergone significant change and growth over recent years, having grown to a £1 billion-turnover service provider with over 9,000 employees worldwide and undertaken the acquisitions of ODS, Human Engineering, ModuSpec, Scandpower and West Engineering. The group has also restructured to create the Lloyd’s Register Foundation as the organisation’s parent entity, invested in technology leadership through its global technology centres, diversified its services further into energy and rail, and expanded its management systems business, LRQA.

In September 2013, it announced a significant investment in Senergy, an integrated energy services company.

Richard Sadler, LR Group CEO laid out the reasons for the change: "We wanted to refresh our brand identity to reflect these changes to the market, our clients and all our stakeholders – with a logo that works in the digital age."

"We took inspiration for our new logo from the LR stamp – the true ‘brand’ that our surveyors have stamped into steel as proof of approval since 1884. But this is not a name change – we will continue to be called Lloyd’s Register, recognising the value that the Lloyd’s name has around the world as a mark of quality."

"Our new identity reflects our heritage and our continued commitment to independence, technical excellence and public benefit. And the new logo is a device that links together all the members in our group, including LRQA, making our broad service portfolio easier to navigate."

Mark Stokes, Group Communications Director, said: "In line with our ethos of sustainability, to minimise the environmental impact we are introducing our new logo on digital items first. You will still see our old logo in use for a while on printed material and on our employees' safety equipment which will be replaced gradually through wear and tear."

Independence

LR’s reputation as an independent body – with safety, integrity and high standards as guiding principles – has been built up over 250 years. The Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK registered charity, is the parent entity in the organisation. The operating company, Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd (Lloyd’s Register) and its subsidiaries, is a professional services organisation that generates profits that fund the public benefit activities of the Foundation.

"Our independence from shareholder dividends and government control marks us out as truly different, meaning that we provide impartial and informed advice that clients can trust, free from compromise, free from prejudice," said Stokes.

"Our clients face continued pressure for transparency, environmental stewardship, corporate responsibility, profitability and safe, sustainable operations. Our obligation is to support our clients in meeting these demands – with intelligent, practical and expert advice to help them build truly a sustainable business."

Technical excellence

LR has confirmed a commitment to innovation through the investment of around £100 million in two global technology centres, in Southampton, UK and Singapore. LR is developing and supporting the innovations that will play a vital role in the immediate and long-term future of shipping and energy.

"As an independent third-party, we need to keep at the forefront of technology and increasingly understand the fundamental science and academic analysis behind new technologies. The two GTCs will serve as the cornerstones of our global R&D network that, along with the activities of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, will help to provide society and industry with the advanced technologies, systems and solutions required for this increasingly complex world," said Sadler.

Public benefit

The Lloyd’s Register organisation is a global body with a mission to protect life and property and advance transportation and engineering education and research. The parent entity in the organisation, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, is a charity, with a mission to fund science, engineering and technology research for public benefit worldwide.

The operating company, LR, is a professional services business that generates the profits that fund the public benefit activities. Its compliance, risk and technical consultancy services directly support a significant part of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s charitable objectives, to enhance the safety of life, property and the environment by helping our clients to ensure the quality construction and operation of critical infrastructure.

On the launch of LR’s new identity, Sadler said, "LR is a truly unique organisation; a global body with a mission to protect life and property and advance transportation and engineering education and research. Our heritage is an important part of our culture and forward-thinking approach to our business and the new identity should serve us well in the years ahead."

Trimline wins contract to upgrade, extend facilities on British ferry

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 06 December 2013 06 December 2013

Trimline, the UK based service provider to the passenger shipping industry, say theyhave won a major contract with Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries to refurbish and extend the Red Falcon, a 94 metre passenger and vehicle ferry based in Southampton.

Red Falcon is due to undergo the work in Southampton inFebruary 2014, with Trimline undertaking the biggest steel structural work in the company’s history to extend the Promenade Deck.

Two brand new lounges are to be added to the Promenade Deck, extending the existing deck area by approximately 240m2 providing 55 per cent more internal seating for passengers. The creation of the new lounges will see Trimlineinstall the steel structure, windows, doors, disabled toilets and extend the current lift on the ship by one deck. They will then create and fit new bars in each lounge, install new flooring and furniture, new ceilings and will overhaul the current air conditioning system throughout the ship.

Trimline will also be refitting B Deck on the Red Falcon, which will include the installation of new catering facilities including hot and cold serveries, a new galley and dishwashing facility, the construction of a new freezer room, a new bar and information area, refurbishment of the existing coffee bar and installation of 34 flat screen TV’s.

Darren Smith, Business Development Manager at Trimline, commented: “For Trimline to be taking on such major structural work to a ship is a reflection of how much we are growing as a company. The Red Falcon contract demonstrates that we are continuing to diversify what we offer clients andemphasises our different approach to marine interiors.”

Murray Carter, Operations Director at Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries, said: “We are delighted that Trimline will be undertaking the work to Red Falcon in the New Year. We were impressed by Trimline’s strategic approach to the project and that they are able to offer a total turnkey solution.”

Trimline will be fitting new seating to the Outside Deck to complete the passenger experience. The work is expected to last two months with the ferry ready for Easter 2014.

MEIKO receives Mercury Award for M-iQ technology

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 05 December 2013 05 December 2013

When it comes to providing catering services to passengers, the standards set by airlines, rail operators and shipping companies are extremely high. To acknowledge these efforts, the International Travel Catering Association (ITCA) – which represents the interests of companies in the industry – presents its highly-prized Mercury Awards every two years. Widely regarded as an important distinction, the Mercury Awards serve to identify the strongest partners in the travel catering industry. This year's prize in the "Heavy Equipment" category went to the German dishwasher manufacturer MEIKO. The Offenburg, Germany-based company received the award for its latest generation of M-iQ flight and rack-type dishwashing machines which are used at major airports all over the world.

"This prize is a clear acknowledgement of our innovation leadership. It celebrates the close cooperation between MEIKO and its customers," says Klaus Engesser, MEIKO's head of exports, clearly delighted with the news.

Together with Eric Waag – Key Account Manager at MEIKO in the Inflight Catering department – Engesser accepted the prize in Abu Dhabi in late November 2013. The awards ceremony was held at the Shangri La Hotel as part of the ITCA gala event. The golden statuette of the Roman God Mercury was presented to MEIKO by Tomas Jamtander from Addis International Catering before setting out on its journey back to MEIKO's headquarters in Offenburg, Germany.

This is the second time that MEIKO has won a trophy at the Mercury Awards, which are presented in a total of six categories. "We also see this award as a confirmation that we are offering exactly what our customers need – from the M-iQ machines' energy concept, which makes efficient use of thermal energy in the cleaning process, to our tremendously high hygiene standards and our new filter system that uses just a fraction of the fresh water required by older systems," says Engesser. The jurors were particularly impressed by a number of features, including the smart, user-friendly design of the human-machine interface with its hygienic touch screen and components clearly marked in blue that make it even easier to operate the machine.

When it first embarked on its search for candidates for this year's Mercury Awards, the ITCA clearly stated that it was looking for clear examples of excellence among its industry partners. MEIKO ticked all the right boxes thanks to its outstanding achievements in the fields of innovation, creativity, quality, reliability, cost efficiency and customer satisfaction. "We're proud to be among the best partners in the eyes of the International Travel Catering Association. We see this award both as an honour and as an incentive to continue producing excellent results," Engesser adds.

Saint-Gobain delivers glass and insulation materials to cruise ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 05 December 2013 05 December 2013

Quantum of the Seas, the first of three innovative vessels Royal Caribbean International has on order at Meyer Weft in Germany will be extensively fitted with Vetrotech Saint-Gobain Kinon glass, the company said in a statement.

The complete hull will carry double glassed units with various pressure panes with high energy saving and comfort glass solutions KM ULTIMATE 20/1. The same accounts for the fire resistant safety glass as CONTRAFLAM-LITE MARINE A0. Part of Superstruture will be fitted with weight saving STADIP MARINE Double Glazed Units with comfort glazing for better acoustics and high U-Values for thermal control.

These glass combinations save up to 45% of weight compared to traditional glass combinations. Furthermore the vessel will be fitted with Saint-Gobain ISOVER ULTIMATE insulation that will contribute up to 50% of weight saving compared to the traditional stone wool insulation materials. Saint-Gobain WEBER will supply high performance light weight Flooring Solutions.

On AIDAStella that Meyer Werft delivered to Aida Cruises in Rostock last year, Saint- Gobain Isover supplying this product with the ULTIMATE high -performance insulation material , which was used in many areas for thermal, acoustic and fire protection. The ULTIMATE - shipbuilding products consistently comply with the concept of environmental protection and energy efficiency.

Saint-Gobain ISOVER supplies the Breakaway class ships of Norwegian Cruise Line with the light weight ULTIMATE high - performance insulation material, which was used in many areas for thermal, acoustic and fire protection. The low weight of the insulation strongly contributed to the green touch to this innovative ship. Further Saint-Gobain WEBER supplied waterproofing solutions and tiling accessories for wet areas on board.

St Gobain units Vetrotech and Kinon merge

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 04 December 2013 04 December 2013

St Gobain, the diversified French industrial group, has merged Vetrotech and Kinon, its two units that supply glass to marine and offshore industries, Vetrotech said in a statement.

Guido Plum, Managing Director Vetrotech Saint-Gobain Kinon GmbH said in sa statement: "All of this will now be available at Vetrotech Saint-Gobain Kinon – your “one-stop-shop” for all Marine Glass needs, with the big advantage of having the main production plant and sales office at one single location. Offering direct contact lines and more efficient information about for example the current production status at any time. We are looking forward to a successful and close working relationship and a bright future together with our customers and partners."