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Balfour Beatty acquires Omnicom Engineering

Balfour Beatty has announced the acquisition of Omnicom Engineering Limited, solidifying Balfour’s role in the future of the UK and global rail markets, the company says.

Known for its innovative approaches to data and technology solutions for the transportation sector, Omnicom Engineering has a strong record of enhancing the effectiveness of infrastructure assets. With key clients such as the UK’s Network Rail and Australia’s largest rail freight operator Aurizon, the acquisition of Omnicom Engineering is a clear commitment by Balfour Beatty to remain a strong player within the rail market.

Omnicom Engineering is best known for its use of video and laser surveys, as well as high-speed video inspections. OmniVision is a key product, enabling clients to utilise automated machine vision from a high speed vehicle to effectively replace manual track inspections.

As one of the UK’s leading rail infrastructure suppliers, the acquisition allows Balfour Beatty to expand existing products and services available to clients around the world.

While Omnicom Engineering’s global ambitions were previously limited by the resources available, it is hoped that the combined skills and resources will allow for business to expand on an international scale.

Speaking to Infrastructure Intelligence, Mark Bullock managing director of Balfour Beatty’s UK rail business stated: “The reason we acquired Omnicom is to expand the business. By combining with the existing Balfour Beatty technology business, we can create something that bigger than the component parts. We are keen to expand it, grow it, keep the skills on board, extend the skills we’ve got, give the people in each of the current businesses the opportunity to learn from each other creating career opportunities for those that have joined us and existing Balfour Beatty employees.”

For clients, this combined expertise will span across the entirety of the rail infrastructure lifecycle, including feasibility of projects, planning, design, implementation, maintenance and general asset management.

“We feel that it is a really bright future, combining the business as it is growing and expanding, particularly overseas. What we have experienced is that developing products for he UK market has given us the ability to extend British expertise and knowhow into overseas markets. We are quite active in South East Asia already, Omnicom operates in America, Australia as well as elsewhere. We see the combined business as one that has at its core R & D, developing products that sell oversees on a global basis,” stated Bullock.

 

If you would like to contact Natasha Marie Levanti about this, or any other story, please email nlevanti@acenet.co.uk.