Acquisition expands the human factor

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 5, 2008

Lloyd's Register has acquired Human Engineering, a leading supplier of ergonomics and human factors technical services worldwide.

Lloyd's Register has significantly enhanced its human factors technical services business by acquiring Human Engineering, a leading supplier of ergonomics and human factors technical services worldwide.

The signing took place on 23rd July 2008 in London, between Lloyd's Register Transportation Commercial Director, Rod Evans, and Human Engineering's Managing Director, James Amende.

"The acquisition of Human Engineering underlines our strategy to position Lloyd's Register as the leading provider of human factors consultancy services to clients throughout all business sectors".

"Human factors is an established and growing aspect of risk management in industries such as rail, oil and gas, chemical, power, marine, and aviation".

"Human Engineering has already become a premier supplier of these specialised services and with the backing of Lloyd's Register is set to become the dominant provider to a world market place".

"It is an exciting time of opportunity for both organisations' employees", says Paul Thomas, Lloyd's Register's Transportation Director.

Human Engineering is an independent company that has been providing high-quality human factors, risk management and design services since 1995.

The move adds 60 experienced employees over four offices worldwide to the Lloyd's Register's Group.

Human Engineering currently has offices in the UK at Bristol, London and Manchester.

In addition it owns a subsidiary business in Australia.

Throughout its history Human Engineering has built a successful multisector business and now provides services to a wide range of international customers in rail, air transport, highways, oil and gas, chemical, power and health, among others.

Thomas continues: "The brand of Human Engineering is highly respected in the industry and the team has a reputation for quality, reliability, and for dealing with challenging and complex human factors problems and delivering innovative and practical solutions".

"Human Engineering has been at the centre of the UK rail industry's efforts on signal passed at danger (SPAD) and level crossings risk management, and has also been a leader in the field of Human Factors Integration, helping clients to establish management and technical processes to support systems engineering and safety management".

Richard Sadler, Lloyd's Register's CEO, said of the acquisition: "Human Engineering is an ideal addition to the Lloyd's Register Group".

"We both share the same values and their capabilities and experience will be an important added value element to our activities across all business sectors".

Lloyd's Register will work closely with Human Engineering in those markets where both companies have an established presence.

In addition, each organisation will be able to support the other in markets where one or other already has an established business activity.

James Amende, Human Engineering's Managing Director, said: "My goal has always been to ensure that Human Engineering could continue to grow and prosper as an independent technical authority in the marketplace, so I am delighted to join the Lloyd's Register Group".

"This move will ensure that our business can achieve its full potential".

Human Engineering will continue to be an autonomous company, organised and managed as it currently is for the time being, but will be very closely interlinked with Lloyd's Register's Transportation business.

However, because Human Engineering is already very active in markets such as oil and gas, power, and air transport, these and Lloyd's Register's other business sectors will feature strongly in the strategy for growth.