Newport-based Mechanical Installations International Limited has been acquired by Swiss firm Von Roll Environmental Technology Ltd and it is keen to stress to existing and potential customers that it will be business as usual'.

The Swiss company is a subsidiary of Austrian Energy and Environment (AE & E Group), one of the leading international suppliers of thermal generation and environmental systems.

Von Roll Inova has some 1,700 employees and more than 350 completed facilities. It is a world leader in waste-to-energy technology. Von Roll Inova has branches in France, Japan, Sweden, China and the USA.

In recent years Newport-based MII Limited has built up its capability in the installation of waste to energy plants. The rapid growth of the UK energy market encouraged AE & E Group, a leading player, to look for a well-established partner for its British expansion plans and MII fitted the bill.

The acquisition will also bolster the group's experience as a full line supplier of waste incinerator plant installation via a local subsidiary; alongside the plant erection and commissioning that have built MII's reputation over the last 24 years. The AE & E Group's UK order book currently totals 500m euros with further UK orders valued at 370m euros.

MII was formed back in 1984, when traditional industries in South Wales were in turmoil. Following their own redundancies, Ray Barton and Glyn Stevens put their experienced heavy-engineering' heads together and set up MII. It quickly established itself as a leading mechanical engineering contractor in the installation, refurbishment, relocation, repair and maintenance of plant and equipment working across a range of industries.

For the first four years 80 per cent of its work was in Europe, making it one of Newport's best kept secrets.

The firm recruited local men who travelled around the globe to service the jobs. It is the dedication and technical expertise of this workforce that has contributed to the healthy development of the company.

As time has marched on so too has the changing face of MII. Glyn Stevens retired some years ago. Ray Barton, founder and retiring managing director, is taking on a consultancy role with MII. Ray has used his entrepreneurial skills and dynamism to mould the business since its inception.

The fact that he is taking on a consultancy role within the company is evidence of the enormous contribution he has made to its success.

Reg Bazzard, managing director, has been with the company for 22 years and has held a number of key operational roles as well as driving MII through a structured period of change.

Brian Arnesen may be new to the operations director role but not to the company, where he has used his considerable chartered engineering expertise to manage a number of major capital projects. Other key players in the senior management team are Julie Brand, company secretary, and Matthew Moody, who has been appointed finance director in MII's restructure.

MII has always had strong associations with Corus and for more than 20 years has worked on numerous installation projects in Port Talbot, Llanwern and across the UK.

One of the largest jobs undertaken was the removal of the gas-scrubbing and fume extraction plants at Llanwern and their subsequent reinstallation at No 5 Blast Furnace Rebuild, Port Talbot.

The gas scrubbing structure looks like an Apollo rocket and must be about the same size. Newport residents will recall the road-transport of a section of the structure which brought traffic to a halt for several hours. The relocation of these structures saved Corus considerable cost with the reuse of such key assets.

The steel producer accounted for a large percentage of MII's business, but when Ray and Reg saw the amount of restructuring that was going to be necessary for Corus to survive they realised they must diversify. While the Corus portfolio remains very important MII has also moved into the automotive; pharmaceutical and cosmetic; petrochemical; food as well as packaging sectors. It has worked with its customers on a number of fast track projects, maintenance programmes and plant installations.

Technology in the field of heavy engineering is improving all the time and MII has certainly kept pace with training, environmental issues and stimulating its workforce with new projects.

Today the firm has five disciplines which form four principle divisions within the company. Mechanical installations and maintenance packages work alongside machinery movement and facility management services. MII also has a specialist pipework and structural steelwork division. It also provides planning supervision for all jobs, which has resulted in the company being able to take on principle contractor status.

The electrical division, which is the key to refurbishment and renewal work, makes up the full range of services on offer.

Experience in these disciplines has produced transferable skills and a much broader approach to problem solving.

MII has been quick to recognise the changing needs in the environmental and waste markets. Its installation of one of UK's first centralised energy from waste plants in November 2006 in London has cemented MII's future. MII has been able to use its installation expertise in a still fledging market place and in doing so has secured its own future - that of MII employees as well as creating many more jobs to contribute to the local and regional economy.

MII's trading name will not change. The expectation from the new owner is that MII will continue growing, working with current clients at home and abroad as well as undertaking internal energy from waste projects of which Von Roll Inova have numerous projects committed in the UK for the next 10 years.

It is expected that further projects will be won by the Von Roll Inova Group in the foreseeable future in the UK, which only further enhances MII's leadership in the market place.

Relocation plans are underway to centralise its offices and a manufacturing facility on the same site.

Due to future expansion plans and the acquisition, MII has a number of career opportunities for professional engineers and craftsmen. Please visit www.mii.co.uk for contact details The company has been accredited with the new quality standard BS EN ISO 9001:2000 which compliments all OHSAS 14001 and 18001 accreditation. MII's quality management system boasts similar work patterns throughout all its satellite sites sitting alongside centralised buying & stock systems.