Four european providers of electronic components engineering, testing and procurement services for the space, defence, aeronautics and medical industries have merged under a newly created holding company, the Alter Technology Group. The Group comprises IGG Component Technology of Great Britain, Hirex Engineering of France, Tecnológica Ingeniería Calidad y Ensayos of Spain and Top-Rel of Italy. IGG and Tecnológica merged in December 2006 and acquired Top-Rel in January 2007. Hirex was acquired by Tecnológica in 2001. Grouped together under the new holding company, the four organisations will work closely together whilst continuing to operate under their existing trade names.

Over the past 20 years, the companies have co-operated on a number of major european programmes. They will now follow a long-term strategy to position the Alter Technology Group as a strategic partner for their customers. The Group’s combined annual turnover is approximately €50 million. The Group’s Board of Directors will be chaired by Sir Ralph Robins, a former Executive Chairman of Rolls-Royce plc current Chairman of IGG. The founder and President of Tecnológica, Fernando Franco, will act as Chief Executive Officer.