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May June 2020 Marina World

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NEWS FOCUS: LINDLEY

NEWS FOCUS: LINDLEY GROUP 90 years for Grupo Lindley From paper importers to internationally renowned marine equipment suppliers, the Lindley group of companies (Grupo Lindley) has climbed high. The company celebrated its 90th anniversary in April. The company’s origins date back to 1930, when Rudolf Ahlers and Antonio Lindley – with £400 in their pockets – established Ahlers Lindley in Lisbon, Portugal as an English paper importer and distributor. Despite Ahlers’ death in 1933, the company grew successfully over the next two decades and acquired Tuella Tin Mines in the north of Portugal. The company developed several other mining interests in the pre-war years in support of the allied war effort, by supplying raw materials from neutral Portugal, particularly tin and tungsten. After the Second World War, trading activity again diversified to include machinery, metals and chemical raw materials. In 1956, Ahlers Lindley began supplying harbour equipment; it supplied two steam cranes to the Portuguese naval base, Arsenal do Alfeite – one of which still exists today. During the 1960s, the mines were closed or sold off and the business returned to concentrating on importing high quality paper, along with machinery and metals, chemical raw materials and plastics. In 1966, the second generation Above: Lindley employees at group headquarters in Cascais. Right: Marina da Gloria in Rio de Janeiro was installed with a new Lindley pontoon system in time for the 2016 Olympic Games. Lindleys took over management from Lindley’s widow and a period of rapid expansion followed, resulting in the building and purchase of premises in Cacém and Porto. In 1981, the group purchased its current headquarters, Edifício Mical, in Cascais. The site, established in 1951, had previously been a large mining and crushing plant belonging to Mical, Mecanica Industrial de Cascais. The addition of Mical to the group pushed the total number of employees to more than 200. In response to the recession of the early 1980s, the group reorganised and divided into several companies that allowed them to specialise in their respective markets. By the 1990s the group comprised: Almovi, a supplier of mechanical handling equipment and hydraulic platforms; Almec, supplying industrial compressed air and sandblasting equipment; Alchema, supplying industrial chemicals and plastics; Florestal, focused on forestry and wood processing equipment; Alma, providing platform and scaffolding hire; and Lindley, supplying floating equipment for marinas and harbours. This period, as the third Lindley generation joined the business, also saw growth. Firstly in the mechanical handling area through Almovi, which distributed major brands such as Grove and Demag cranes, Simon platforms and Marine Travelift. Secondly, through Lindley, with its own brands in marinas and marine aids to navigation. From 2000 onwards, the business began to consolidate, largely in the marine business area. Almovi strengthened its position as a supplier of harbour and industrial handling equipment, while expanding its 18 www.marinaworld.com - May/June 2020

NEWS FOCUS: LINDLEY GROUP maintenance and service facilities. Lindley developed its own designs and products for marinas, while Mical manufactured for both companies. In 2004, the company took its first steps into foreign trade by establishing Almarin, in Barcelona, to distribute marine navigation aids in Spain. Seven years later, as the financial crisis hit southern Europe, Almarin and Lindley pivoted to start operations in South America, where Almarin won a contract to supply and install navigation buoys for the Colombian Navy. Meanwhile Lindley, after supplying its first marina contracts in Brazil and taking on further significant contracts, established a subsidiary in Rio de Janeiro in 2015: Lindley BR. This led to a major contract to reorganise, supply and install Marina da Gloria in Rio for the Olympic Games in 2016. At the same time, the group invested in Salt Technologies, a start-up specialised in marine structure calculations and high-resolution digital content. Salt Lindley specialises in the installation of gangways and pier installations for mooring various types of vessel. This facility was built in Tavira on the Algarve coast, Portugal. Technologies subsequently developed ‘Nephos’, an advanced online platform for calculating jack-up offshore structures. Today, the Lindley group owners are supported by a team of over 50 professionals, among them industryleading experts. Providing independent and bespoke services to clients worldwide Masterplanning Investment appraisal Tender and project management Environmental and legislative advice www.marinaprojects.com 132x182_Marina World_19_Final.indd 1 07/02/2019 16:11 www.marinaworld.com - May/June 2020 19

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