We are happy to announce the appointment of Sietse Nap as Managing Director of Cavotec Netherlands, replacing Fred Textor after 19 successful years in the position. The changeover takes effect on April 1, 2010.

Nap, 33, married, holds several certificates in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from Hogeschool van Utrecht, and joined Cavotec in January 2009, as a Sales Manager. He has previously held posts at German electronics equipment manufacturer, Bals, and engineering group, ABB.

Fred Textor will remain at Cavotec Netherlands as a Technical Manager, overseeing product development.

Email him a welcome note: sietse.nap@cavotec.com

CSIA, Copyright: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, 2010. All rights reserved.

We have received an order to install 53 advanced fuel hydrant systems and related materiel at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) as part of the airport’s modernisation programme.

Cavotec is to supply 44 hydrant pits, including Cavotec Dabico Cla-Val hydrant valves, and nine DAB-24 pits for low point drains and high point vents. Low point drain pits remove non-fuel fluids and other contaminants that can accumulate in aircraft fuel pipelines. Deliveries are due for completion in early August.

CSIA, formerly Sahar International Airport, currently handles more than 25 million passengers annually, and is served by international carriers such as Emirates, Lufthansa, British Airways and Cathay Pacific. CSIA is also a domestic hub for several Indian airlines including Air India, Blue Dart Aviation, Kingfisher, GoAir, Indian Airlines, IndiGo, Jet Airways, JetLite and SpiceJet.

The fuel hydrant systems project is one element in the first phase of a two-stage expansion programme at the airport. Launched in 2006, the improvements are designed to meet booming demand in India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector. The plans include a new terminal, a new air traffic control system and new taxiways and upgrades of existing terminals.

Designed by SOM Architects, the new terminal will cover more than 4.8 million square feet, and will have the capacity to handle some 40 million passengers annually when fully operational. The new terminal is due to open in 2013. The terminal will have one gate configured to receive the A380 aircraft and a further two gates will be readily adaptable for the A380.

Amid signs of sustained recovery in the global economy, we have posted some favourable figures for the first quarter (Q1) of 2010.

Order Intake for the period edged 0.9 per cent higher on the year to EUR 35.3 million, while Cavotec’s Order Book stood at EUR 73.4 million, a record 37.4 per cent jump on the year.

Reflecting a return in confidence across a wide range of geographical areas, Cavotec’s Airports Market Unit reported successes in India, Argentina and the Middle East.

Our Ports & Maritime solutions also enjoyed a strong quarter, with orders for offshore equipment in the North Sea and ERTG cable reels in Viet Nam. Our automated mooring technology, MoorMaster, also continued to attract interest throughout the period.

With a respectable 2009 results, and now a solid Q1, we are looking ahead to the remainder of 2010, and beyond, with a sense of cautious optimism.

For more details, read the report in full.

Solar Impulse prototype, photo credit: Solar Impulse

Solar Impulse is a favorite here at Cavotec (see here) so we are thrilled to read (and watch the video) about their first full successful test flight after several test “hops” since December. We look forward to 2012, when the Solar Impulse will try its first transatlantic flight before attempting to fly around the globe.

Cavotec Dabico in-ground pit system

This week we are proud to report our first airports order in Argentina with a deal to supply a range of advanced fuelling hydrants and related materiel for Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport.

One of Cavotec’s three airport units, Cavotec Dabico, in conjunction with partners, Aviation Fueling Consulting Corp, will supply 25 fuel hydrant pits and four low-point drain assemblies to Ezeiza International Airport. Low point drain pits remove non-fuel fluids and other contaminants that can accumulate in aircraft fuel pipelines.

The equipment forms a key element of a major, ongoing modernisation project at the airport announced in 2007. The programme, that includes a new terminal building, and a control tower, is due for completion in 2010/11. Located some 20 miles (35 kilometres) south west of Buenos Aires, Ezeiza International Airport handled more than eight million passengers in 2009.