Savcor Group Ltd Oy has acquired a majority shareholding in Indufor Oy, creating a company with “know-how” for the global forest sector. The shares were sold by the Finnish state forest enterprise, Metsähallitus.

The aim is to integrate Indufor’s consulting services with Savcor’s hi-tech expertise in the field of sustainable forestry and the forest industry.

Savcor chief executive officer Hannu Savisalo said the group will look to develop solutions and alternatives to harmonise the economic, ecological and social forest uses to optimise the value of forest resources.

He added: “The trade-offs between the competing forest uses can be resolved by means of modern information technology and know-how which is based on international experience.

&#8220Merging our expertise on the forest sector, particularly information technology and environmental monitoring, with the know-how of Savcor greatly strengthens the expert service portfolio available to our clients”

Olli Haltia, Indufor Oy chief executive officer

“Our new technology facilitates the measurement and monitoring of the environmental and other values of forests. As an example, our wood waste minimising technology is an imperative for sustainable business in the forest industry.”

Olli Haltia, chief executive officer of Indufor Oy, said the arrangement contributes to Indufor’s development objectives. He added: “Merging our expertise on the forest sector, particularly information technology and environmental monitoring, with the know-how of Savcor greatly strengthens the expert service portfolio available to our clients.”

The turnover of the merged businesses is estimated to exceed €13m in 2004.