Ci Technologies buys firms, forms agreement, makes appointments

Sydney, Australia-Ci Technologies Group Ltd. recently announced that it has bought two South African companies, its former software distributor and related systems integration business, for about $1.5 million in order to help them undertake several major system upgrade projects for global corporations, including the wider De Beers group.

By Jim Montague, news editor January 4, 2002

Sydney, Australia- Ci Technologies Group Ltd. recently announced that it has bought two South African companies, its former software distributor and related systems integration business, for about $1.5 million in order to help them undertake several major system upgrade projects for global corporations, including the wider De Beers group.

A leading HMI/SCADA and HMI software developer, Ci Technologies reports its acquisitions gives it immediate access to upgrade projects by De Beers, Kumba Resources (formerly Iscor), and another major South African mining house. Several other multi-million dollar projects are confirmed for 2002, and Ci Technologies also expects meet rising demand for automation solutions throughout South Africa as the country contends with obsolete technology, increasing labor costs and chronic skill shortages in mining, manufacturing and utilities.

In other news, Ci Technologies recently agreement with Toshiba Corp. to cooperate on providing a combined hardware/software solution in the distributed control system (DCS) sector. The agreement will precede a proposed, formal joint venture between the two firms. The agreement will focus on Toshiba’s V Series hybrid controllers and Ci Technologies’ Citect software. Solutions will be delivered by Ci Technologies’ system integration. Several existing projects will be completed jointly as part of the agreement.

In addition, Ci Technologies recently secured a $1.5-million contract to automate, control and monitor the refueling system at Guangzhou Airport. The job was awarded by a joint authority, which includes BP and the Chinese government. The airport is one of China’s three pillar air-ports.

Also, the company recently appointed Gary Hopkins as president of its U.S. operations based in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Hopkins previously spent 12 years at Rockwell Automation, serving most recently as sales and marketing vp of Rockwell’s Intecolor subsidiary.