New owner sets out his vision for a sustainable future
With Covid travel restrictions finally relaxing across Europe, following the announcement in August that Langley Holdings have entered into an Agreement to acquire the Rolls-Royce Bergen Engines business, Mr Tony Langley and colleagues visited the company’s factory and headquarters in Norway for the first time earlier this week.
During his visit Langley set out his vision, not only for the iconic engine builder, but also for his group’s contribution to “net zero” ahead of the COP 26 summit in Glasgow next month.
Three days in Bergen saw a packed schedule of internal meetings and tours of the iconic engine builder, concluding with a press conference on Wednesday, which included Norwegian national TV.
AMAZE
During his visit Mr Langley gave a green light to the Ammonia Zero Emission (AMAZE) project which Bergen Engines will commence in 2022 under Langley stewardship.
AMAZE is a three year study into the potential use of ammonia as an alternative fuel for ship engines. The €4 million project, which is being funded jointly with the Norwegian government, will also give the company valuable knowledge into running their engines on other alternative fuels.
“The world isn’t producing alternative fuels on a sufficient scale yet and right now we don’t know whether it will be ammonia, methanol, bio-diesel, hydrogen or a combination of them all that eventually wins out against fossil fuels”
“But we cannot afford to sit and do nothing in the meantime, which is why I have approved this investment now” he said.
New Power Solutions Division
Langley also announced that Bergen Engines will come together with the group’s Italian Marelli Motori and German Piller Power Systems subsidiaries, to become part of a new Power Solutions Division to pursue projects in the rapidly developing hybrid-renewable “microgrid” sector.
Marelli is a leading producer of electric motors and generators and it’s products are already proven with Bergen engines in harsh marine applications. The two companies will now work even more closely, together with Piller, a leading producer of power stabilisation equipment.
Langley emphasised though that Bergen and its new sister companies will continue to serve their existing customers and markets and that the transition to net zero will be “evolutionary”.
The Power Solutions Division will represent almost half of Langley’ Holdings’ expected €1.3 billion revenues in 2022, with Bergen Engines accounting for around €300 million.
The new logo that will represent Bergen Engines, following completion of the sale of Rolls Royce Bergen Engines to Langley Holdings on 31st December, was unveiled at a press conference during the visit. From left to right: Mr Jon Erik Rov, CEO Bergen Engines; Mr Tony Langley, Chairman & CEO and Mr Mike Neale, Finance Director, Langley Holdings plc
Factory Tour. Joining them on the left is Chief Shop Steward Mr Idar Bruvik, Bergen Engines. The engine shown is fitted with a Marelli Motori generator.
The sale of Rolls-Royce Bergen Engines to Langley Holdings will be completed on 31st December, 2021. In this aerial view of the factory, giant generator sets weighing 175 tonnes each are loaded directly onto a barge before onward sea transport by ship.
Watch the TV news piece here (08:18 minutes in)
About Langley Holdings
Langley Holdings plc (Langley) is a privately owned UK engineering and industrial manufacturing concern, principally providing capital equipment technologies to diverse markets worldwide. Langley businesses are either outright market leaders or occupy strong niche positions in their respective fields, providing advanced technologies in a solutions-based approach. The group’s principal operations are based in Germany, Italy, France and the UK with 17 production facilities in Europe, the UK and the US and more than 80 sales and service subsidiaries worldwide, currently employing some 4,600 people.
The group was established in 1975 by Anthony Langley, the current Chairman & CEO, and remains in family ownership.