OMNIA ACQUIRES INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC DETONATOR BUSINESS
OMNIA HOLDINGS LIMITED
PRESS RELEASE
OMNIA ACQUIRES INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC DETONATOR BUSINESS
Specialist chemical services Group Omnia today announced that its explosives
business, Bulk Mining Explosives (BME), had acquired the assets and technology
of an international detonator company Delta Caps International (DCI) for R15m,
plus performance related payments spread over five years. BME is the leading
supplier of explosives to the South African open cast mining and quarrying
industry.
BME started manufacturing an Electronic Delay Detonator (EDD), the Deltadet
system, in July 2002. The acquisition now gives BME control over the state-of-
the-art electronic detonator technology developed by DCI and will be used to
further develop BME"s range of differentiated blasting products.
Omnia has acquired the highly advanced technology with significant commercial
value at a very competitive price, while also saving an estimated five years of
proprietary development.
The new system will improve blast fragmentation through precision timing, lower
downstream operational costs and result in significant savings in drilling and
blasting, while also reducing the risks associated with blasting.
The Deltadet system will be integrated into BME"s product range and extensive
training and support will be provided to customers.
DCI"s international operations in Europe and in North and South America will
continue, with manufacturing being undertaken in South Africa. The unique
microchip that controls the system will continue to be manufactured in the
United Kingdom. DCI"s 15 employees will now be employed by Delta Caps
Initiators, Omnia"s new subsidiary based in Nice, France.
Johannesburg
26 March 2003
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