STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 17, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Alfa Laval:
The Volvo Group has signed a development and delivery agreement involving the Alfdex system, developed by Alfdex AB, jointly owned by Alfa Laval and Haldex. The order value is approximately MSEK 400 during a five year period and serial deliveries are estimated for end of 2005.
The Alfdex-system built around Alfa Laval's unique knowledge of centrifugal separation, offers the market a very efficient removal of oil droplets and soot particles from the ventilation air in the diesel engine crankcases, so called crankcase gases.
The demand on cleaning of gases from diesel engines becomes tougher. New and coming legislation also comprises other discharges than those from the exhaust pipe, e.g. crankcase gases. Korea is the first country having already introduced such legislation while Japan introduced this legislation as from January this year. The North American market will introduce similar demands as from 2007 and in Europe new regulations are expected as from 2008.
There is a great interest in the Alfdex system and there are a number of projects going on. Most diesel engine manufacturers in Europe, the US and other parts of the world have successfully tested or will test the system. The agreement with Volvo comprises all their brands, Volvo, Renault and Mack. Deliveries on a small scale have taken place to the South Korean market and serial deliveries are planned in the fourth quarter in 2005.
Mats Ekeroth, Managing Director of Alfdex, comments on Volvo's decision: "This is of course very good news. The agreement with Volvo and the earlier agreement with Scania, means that we in a short period have reached a strong position on the market, a market that for the Alfdex system globally has a value of more than 1000 MSEK annually." Mats Ekeroth continues: "The cooperation between Alfa Laval and Haldex, i.e. Alfdex, is a successful example how the strengths of different companies can be combined to create new business opportunities."
About Alfa Laval and Haldex: Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling.
The company's equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. The solutions help them to heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce food and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol. Alfa Laval's products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration applications.
Alfa Laval's worldwide organization works closely with customers in nearly 100 countries to help them stay ahead in the global arena.
Alfa Laval is listed on the Stockholm Exchange and, in 2004, posted annual sales of about SEK 15 billion. The company has some 9,500 employees.
For further information, please visit the Alfa Laval website at www.alfalaval.com
Haldex (www.haldex.com), headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, is a provider of proprietary and innovative solutions to the global vehicle industry, with focus on products in vehicles that enhance safety, environment and vehicle dynamics. Haldex is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and has annual sales of nearly 7 billion SEK with 4,400 employees.
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