Project Centric Serimax selects IFS to enhance its operations

The agreement covers project and inventory management, sales, financial activities, and project execution. Implementation has begun in the United States and France, and will be rolled out across the rest of the group starting in 2010. IFS’ experience and extensive references in the energy industry and the field of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) were key deciding factors for Serimax.

When designing its information systems, the company had to consider the need to harmonize processes after a merger, the complexity of the projects managed, and the extreme conditions under which the projects are carried out. Serimax needed a consolidated data management system to successfully manage its projects and ensure corporate growth. The rich feature set of IFS Applications allows the company to model project tracking and seamlessly integrate its scheduling and logistical data. IFS’ ERP solution offers several key advantages, including enhanced profitability, improved management of equipment risks and deadlines, as well as easier and faster collection of customer receivables.

The IFS Applications Project Management component allows Serimax to control all phases in the project lifecycle, improve communications and encourage information exchange between all parties involved.

“With the Sales and Financial Management components in IFS Applications, Serimax can monitor its projects all the way from sales prospecting through to final payment, and can easily generate detailed project profit and loss reports,” Serimax Information Systems Director Jean-Pierre Genoud-Prachex said. "This is a challenging project for Serimax, covering all our corporate processes worldwide and representing the largest investment we have ever made in an IT system. IFS Applications provides a global view of all our projects and an interdivisional view of their progress. Both the quality and availability of data provided by IFS Applications will boost the development potential for all our businesses."

“SERIMAX is an excellent example of how IFS’ focused industry approach fits the customer’s needs. IFS Applications provides the range of components Serimax needs to run its project-based business efficiently, IFS France President and CEO Amor Bekrar said. “We are the obvious choice for this kind of company working in an international environment."

About Serimax
With thirty years of experience in the welding industry, Serimax plans, manages, and executes complex and challenging welding contracts. Serimax was created following the February 2006 merger of Serimer—the leading provider of automatic welding services for offshore and onshore pipelines—and Umax, the market leader in the provision of spoolbase management services for the prefabrication of offshore pipelines. Serimax has the teams and equipment required to offer a full range of welding services worldwide. The company has 750 employees and revenue in the region of € 135 million. More information on Serimax available at www.serimax.com.

About IFS
IFS is a public company (OMX STO: IFS) founded in 1983 that develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications™, a fully-integrated, component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology. The company has more than 2,000 customers in more than 50 countries and focuses on seven main industries: aerospace & defense, utilities & telecom, manufacturing, process industries, automotive, retail & wholesale distribution, and construction contracting & service management. IFS has 2,700 employees and net revenue in 2008 was $383 million.

The information is that which IFS is required to declare by the Securities Business Act and/or the Financial instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication on February 16, 2009.