June 26th, 2017
Montague, PEI.
Canadian, Prince Edward Island based engineering firm Aspin Kemp and Associates Inc. (AKA) and German based engine and turbomachinery market leader MAN Diesel & Turbo SE have finalized an agreement between the two companies whereby MAN Diesel & Turbo steps in as a 40 percent shareholder in AKA.
AKA hosted the event at their corporate headquarters in Montague, Prince Edward Island. MAN delegates, members of government, other business associates, staff and friends gathered and took time to listen to words from AKA CEO Jason Aspin, MAN Chief Sales Officer and Executive Board member Wayne Jones, and the Honorable Premier of Prince Edward Island, H. Wade MacLauchlan. We would like to thank all invitees and media who attended the event.
Through this new partnership, AKA is looking forward to building its innovative potential with MAN in a broader market for power and energy solutions. Company co-founder Jason Aspin remains a controlling shareholder and CEO of AKA. Co-founder Neale Kemp has retired from active business operations.
This partnership will help both companies complement each other’s current scope of supply and market access to the marine and land based power industries. Jointly, the companies can offer turnkey integrated power, propulsion and automation solutions, providing added value and reduced project and operational risk to customers, from project inception throughout the entire life cycle of an asset. A video announcing the partnership can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAQMDSuitoM&feature=youtu.be.
“It’s really been critical to go to the next level; where we can take the innovation that we’ve developed. It’s been important to find a global partner who has a stronger brand and is able to allow us to compete with larger organizations across the world”, explained Jason Aspin, CEO and co-founder of AKA.
“This investment and partnership is an important strategic step for us” affirmed Wayne Jones, MAN Chief Sales Officer and Executive Board member. “We have kicked off a future program ‘Basecamp 3000+’ in 2016 to grow the company through the global trends of decarbonization and digitization. Part of this program is investments to expand our portfolio of offerings to growing market sectors. In AKA we have found a new partner that is leading in highly relevant growth areas, e.g., electrical propulsion systems and the integration of battery storage into marine and offshore applications.”
The Honorable Premier of Prince Edward Island, H. Wade MacLauchlan summarizes, “More than half of the marine power in the world is being offered through MAN, and for them to be now partners with AKA can’t help but offer major opportunities to grow, to prosper, and to solve problems for the world from right here in Prince Edward Island.”
AKA would also like to acknowledge and express our deepest appreciation for the support in this process by our long term partner, Transocean, who has been instrumental in our company’s development and success in technology innovation.
MAN Diesel & Turbo SE, based in Augsburg, Germany, is the world’s leading provider of large-bore diesel and gas engines and turbomachinery. The company employs around 14,500 staff at more than 100 international sites, primarily in Germany, Denmark, France, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, India and China. The company’s product portfolio includes two-stroke and four-stroke engines for marine and stationary applications, turbochargers and propellers as well as gas and steam turbines, compressors and chemical reactors. The range of services and supplies is rounded off by complete solutions like ship propulsion systems, engine-based power plants and turbomachinery trains for the oil & gas as well as the process industries. Customers receive worldwide after-sales services marketed under the MAN PrimeServ brand.
AKA is a systems integrator focusing on innovation, reliability, safety, and energy efficiency in marine, island and micro grid power systems. AKA designs, manufactures, installs, and supports innovative power generation, power to process and energy management solutions for marine, offshore oil and gas, and land based industries to the global market. With headquarters in Montague, Prince Edward Island, the company operates internationally with additional offices in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Owen Sound, Ontario and Singapore.
Photo Credits: Photo of Jason Aspin – AKA, Wayne Jones – MAN Diesel & Turbo and H. Wade MacLauchlan – Honorable Premier of Prince Edward Island courtesy of Brian Simpson/Gov of PEI. Photo of closing ceremony agenda courtesy of David Rashed.