• ABB has reported that orders taken by its Automation Technologies division rose by 9% last year to $11.3bn, with double-digit growth being recorded in the automation products business. At $11bn, the division`s revenues were 7% higher than in 2003.

• The Portescap range of stack stepper motors and digital linear actuators are now part of Delta Line Europe`s product offering. Portescap, founded in 1931 in Switzerland, was bought by American Precision Industries in 1997. In 2000, Danaher bought API and began building its Danaher Motion business. The Portescap, API Harowe, Kollmorgen PMI and Thomson Airpax Mechatronics brands have now been combined under the Portescap name, as part of Danaher Motion`s speciality motors division, with Delta Line acting as the exclusive representative for Europe.

• SKF, Rautarukki and Wärtsilä have combined their long steel businesses to form a jointly owned new company, NewCo, which will produce engineering steels for roller bearings, automotive and general engineering applications. The company, which has 18 plants in six countries, is expected to save the partners €30-40m a year.

• Autodesk, the company behind AutoCAD, has bought the German data management company, Compass Systems, for €13m. The acquisition will help Autodesk to expand its data management offerings more rapidly. Compass has more than 20,000 users in 1,800 manufacturing companies.

• Embedded computing specialist Kontron has bought the ruggedised computer and flat panel display company Dolch Computer Systems from Siegel-Robert for an undisclosed cash sum.

• Danaher Industrial Controls has bought the German controls company PMA (Prozess- und Maschinen-Automation) which makes digital multifunction closed-loop controllers, sensors, transmitters and software.

• Parker Hannifin has bought Markwel Hose Products, an Indian manufacturer of braided and spiral hydraulic hose products, with annual sales worth around $13m.