MEDIA RELEASE 25 October 2013

Crown Research Institute Scion is pleased to announce the sale of its commercial software brand ATLAS Technology to software development company Integral Limited. The sale takes effect from 1 January 2014.

ATLAS Technology was set up by Scion in 2002 to accelerate development and provision of advanced software solutions for the forestry and wood-related industries. Its suite of software products incorporates the latest science covering every step of the forestry life cycle.

“The time is right”, says Scion CEO Warren Parker, “for a new owner to lead the vision and direction of the ATLAS brand”.

“We have been looking for the right company that will expand and grow functionality and useability of the ATLAS products, while still being committed to New Zealand forestry companies.

“This sale increases the capacity of Scion, through Integral, to provide high quality innovative decision support tools to increase forest productivity, health and profit. We look forward to maintaining strong research links with Integral and contributing to the ongoing impact and value of ATLAS Technology to industry,” said Dr Parker.

Scion will retain its software engineering division, which will re-focus on internal research and development as well as technology transfer of science through software to industry. FFR Forecaster, which was produced in partnership with Future Forests Research, will be maintained by Scion.

Integral is a long serving provider of software and solutions to the forest industry. The company is excited to have the opportunity to grow GeoMaster and the other ATLAS Technology software packages and assist Scion in delivering its science to the wider forest industry.

“Landing GeoMaster, recognised as the leading non-proprietary land information and forest GIS application for the Australasian market, is quite a coup for us as we continue on our path of expansion,” says Andrew Taylor, CEO of Integral.

“It’ll be business as usual for all ATLAS clients initially as we build up trust with them. Then we’ll start adding our knowledge and experience to start offering complete forest management software solutions.”

Integral Limited was established in 1991 specifically to service the timber and forest industries. Relationships with companies like Carter Holt Harvey, PF Olsen, Timberlands Limited and many other large and small organisations go back around 20 years and continue today.

All ATLAS clients have been informed of the sale, and can continue to enjoy existing relationships with those Scion staff who will move to Integral. There are no staff losses resulting from the sale and restructure of Scion’s software engineering division.

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