Royal HaskoningDHV acquires Lanner to strengthen its predictive simulation capabilities

15 January 2019 –Engineering and project management consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV has acquired Lanner, a UK-based hybrid software & consultancy firm specialising in predictive simulation for industrial clients. Lanner’s simulation software (WITNESS) connects physical assets, processes and resources into a single digital model that delivers actionable insights to make business operations and supply chains more resilient and efficient.

The acquisition supports Royal HaskoningDHV’s strategy to offer services in which its extensive engineering and consultancy knowledge is combined with data-driven and technology-based solutions.

Royal HaskoningDHV CEO Erik Oostwegel commented, “Today’s rapidly changing business environment requires organisations to be able to quickly adapt and act. Simulation is the most cost-effective way to assess ‘what if’ scenarios of business process changes. Predictive simulation helps to make fact-based investment decisions, improve operational efficiency and embrace Industry 4.0. It allows us to better support our clients on business questions such as ‘what happens if we expand our production capacity’, or ‘what would be the best Industry 4.0 investment for our specific situation’.
“We are pleased to welcome the experts of Lanner and their proven technology. By combining our extensive engineering and consultancy knowledge with data-driven and technology-based solutions, we are able to better advise and support our clients to run a sustainable business.”

Predictive digital twin

The predictive simulation technology provided by Lanner also strengthens Royal HaskoningDHV’s focus on further building its Digital Twin offering. Lanner’s software platform (WITNESS) provides optimisation capabilities together with scenario management functionality. Combined with Royal HaskoningDHV’s broader digital capabilities, clients can be supported with a predictive digital twin that is able to hunt for the optimum balance between customer service levels and operational costs.

Lanner CEO David Jones: “I am very excited by this teaming with Royal HaskoningDHV for all Lanner employees, our customers and partners as it allows Lanner to strengthen its position as the leading simulation company driving real and deliverable Industry 4.0 certainty and success. Being part of the Royal HaskoningDHV family will provide greater technology and market access, accelerating our vision and business strategy of delivering predictive digital twin technology and applications that future proofs our customer’s decision making. This is a real win-win!”

Both company cultures and visions are very much aligned, and their customer bases complementary. Royal HaskoningDHV and Lanner feel confident that by joining forces they are able to add additional value to their customers operating in diverse sectors across the world.

With the acquisition of Lanner, Royal HaskoningDHV aims to strengthen its market position in the UK especially in consumer goods, manufacturing, automotive and energy & utilities and it also sees great potential for maritime and aviation. In Asia Pacific, the focus will be on the growing consumer goods market by combining Lanner’s predictive simulation with Royal HaskoningDHV’s parametric business consultancy. Also, in the other global markets of Royal HaskoningDHV joint opportunities will be pursued.

No financial details about the acquisition are disclosed.

Royal HaskoningDHV’s digital transformation

Since Royal HaskoningDHV launched its new strategy in 2017 with a clear focus on data and digital, the company made important steps to transform its organisation, introduce a new digital way of working, develop global openBIM standards (as new member of buildingSMART International), develop new digital services (e.g. BlueLabel, Fastlane) and co-create with clients, start-ups in alliance with YES!Delft, and strategic partners like data intelligence lab HAL24K for solutions with real impact. This was recognised in an annual review by Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad and Vlerick Business School who ranked Royal HaskoningDHV a Transformers Frontrunner in June 2018. July 2018 Royal HaskoningDHV acquired data science company Ynformed.

In January 2019 Royal HaskoningDHV acquired Lanner, also bringing opportunities for leveraging Ynformed data-science capabilities and HAL24K’s data analytics capabilities through Lanner’s software solutions.