• The German controls manufacturer Jetter has bought another controls company, Futronic, from the French Saint Gobain group, for €6m. Futronic, based in Baden-Württemberg, specialises in controls for the glass container industry and has sales worth around €6.3m. It will be maintained as a separate brand.

• Schneider Electric has bought AEM, a Spanish company that manufactures LV distribution system. AES` sales last year were worth €20m.

• Florida-based eLutions is buying ITA Holdings` Wizcon Systems business, best known for its Wizcon Supervisor product (previously known as Axeda Supervisor). This is an Internet-based package for control and information with a core SCADA/HMI component.

• The Finnish drives-maker Vacon recorded a 22.1% growth in orders last year, to reach €157m. Its revenues grew 16.6% to €150m, while its operating profit rose 13.8% to €18m. Vacon estimates that the frequency converter market expanded by more than 5% last year, boosted by the rise in energy prices, especially towards the end of the year.