Lloyd's Register acquires Human Engineering to expand its business interests in human factors technical services

Lloyd's Register has significantly enhanced its human factors technical services business by acquiring Human Engineering Limited, a leading supplier of ergonomics and human factors technical services worldwide. The signing took place on July 23, 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 multi-sector business and now provides services to a wide range of international customers in rail, air transport, highways, oil and gas, chemical, power, and health, amongst others.

Paul 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 market place, 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, organized 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.

Notes to editors

1. The Lloyd's Register Group is an independent risk management organization that works to help to improve its clients' quality, safety, environmental and business performance throughout the world, because life matters. Its expertise and activities cover shipping, railways, oil and gas, and other asset-based industries. The Group comprises charities and non-charitable companies, with the latter supporting the charities in their public benefit goals.

2. An image of Lloyd's Register Transportation Director, Paul Thomas, and Human Engineering Managing Director, James Amende is available for download click here

For more information, contact

Mark Stokes
Group Communications Director
Lloyd's Register
T +44 207 423 1725
F +44 207 423 1573
E mark.stokes@lr.org

Lloyd's Register
71 Fenchurch Street
London EC3M 4BS, UK
T +44 (0)20 7709 9166
F +44 (0)20 7488 4796
E news@lr.org

www.lr.org

Services are provided by members of the Lloyd's Register Group.
Lloyd's Register, Lloyd's Register EMEA and Lloyd's Register Asia are exempt charities under the UK Charities Act 1993.