August 18, 2011 - TÜV Rheinland is acquiring Sonovation B.V., a highly specialized non-destructive testing services provider based in the Netherlands. Founded in 1988 and employing a staff of fifty, Sonavation provides advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) services particularly for companies in the oil and gas industry. Typical services can include weld examination, pipe system and pressure equipment corrosion inspection, and others.
The company also operates an accredited training school for Advanced NDT. "High-technology solutions for non-destructive testing represents an important growth area and one in which TÜV Rheinland is making strategic investments,” said Dieter Hesel, TÜV Rheinland’s Executive Vice President, Industrial. “We are targeting a large-scale regional expansion of our international NDT services beyond the USA and Germany, and we expect this acquisition to help us accomplish that while also helping us increase market share in the oil and gas sector.”
"With the integration of Sonovation, we are significantly expanding our worldwide network of experts for the energy sector and safety inspections of industrial plants," commented Thomas Biedermann, Chief Regional Director for Western Europe at TÜV Rheinland. With locations in the Netherlands, UK, Belgium and Germany, Sonovation’s 2010 revenues were approximately €12 million ($17 million). The company has been growing at a 15% annual rate. Moving forward, the company will be named TÜV Rheinland Sonovation. As part of the TÜV Rheinland global network, we can now serve new markets that were not available to us before,” said Jan Verkooijen, CEO of TÜV Rheinland Sonovation.
“TÜV Rheinland is already quite successful in Germany and America. Our core competencies can help the company extend its non-destructive testing services for industrial and systems engineering to additional locations throughout Europe and Asia.” The acquisition of TÜV Rheinland Sonovation increases the number of TÜV Rheinland employees in the Netherlands to nearly 200 in the areas of product testing, certification of management systems, and passive vehicle safety, for which the company has created an ultramodern vehicle crash center. The company maintains facilities in Apeldoorn, Enschede, Helmond and Niekerk.
About TÜV Rheinland
Founded in 1871, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent inspection services. The company inspects technical equipment, products and services; oversees projects; and helps to shape processes for U.S. companies seeking entry to worldwide markets. With 14,500 employees, TÜV Rheinland maintains a presence in approximately 500 locations in 62 countries.
In addition, it encompasses an international network of approved laboratories, testing facilities and education centers, and its experts train people across a wide range of industries.