News » World News Invensys buys InduSoft to offer ‘largest range of automation software’
Invensy has acquired InduSoft, the Texas-based supplier of HMI and embedded intelligent device software for the automation market. The companies say that, together, they will be able to offer the largest range of industrial automation software products on the market, from HMI and embedded software, to high-end Scada and ERP and MES integration. The financial details of the transaction have not been revealed.
Integrated motor sales set to soar by 40% by 2017
Sales of motors with built-in electronic controls will increase by 40% by 2017, according to a new report from IMS Research, now part of IHS. The study suggests that revenues from these “integrated motors” will reach $553m by 2017, up from less than $400m in 2012.
Robot sales slide in Germany, Japan and the UK
Sales of industrial robots will fall in Germany, Japan and the UK during 2013, according to the latest analysis by the International Federation of Robotics. However, worldwide sales will rise by 2% to reach 162,000, and the IFR expects global sales to climb by an average of around 6% per year between 2014 and 2016, creating a market for more than 190,000 robots by 2016.
Swiss group buys German automation firm Jetter in €23m deal
The Swiss mechanical and vehicle engineering group Bucher Industries is buying the German automation specialist Jetter AG in a deal that values Jetter at about €23m. Bucher already has a stake of nearly 30% in Jetter which, in the past two years, has generated about half of its income from sales to Bucher group companies, with most of this coming from Bucher’s Emhart Glass subsidiary, which produces equipment for the glass container industry.
Colfax buys Fläkt Woods’ industrial fans business
The US-based Colfax Corporation is buying the Global Infrastructure and Industry (GII) business of the Fläkt Woods Group, subject to certain conditions. The deal values GII at €193m, including the assumption of debt.
Koch Industries buys connector-maker Molex for $7.2bn
Molex, the US-based manufacturer of connectors, communications equipment and electronic components, is being bought by Koch Industries, one of the world’s largest private companies, for around $7.2bn. The deal has been approved by both boards of directors.
SKF is buying Kaydon Corporation for $1.25bn
SKF is buying the US-based bearings and velocity control manufacturer, Kaydon Corporation, for around $1.25bn, including $95m of debt. Kaydon, which makes bearings, velocity control products such as shock absorbers, and other specialised products, had sales worth $475m in 2012, with an operating profit of around 16% and more than 2,100 employees.
Metso sells belts businesses to German pair
The Finnish group Metso is selling parts of its industrial rubber conveyor belt manufacturing business to two German companies, ContiTech’s Conveyor Belt Group and the Lutze Group.
Lack of enforcement and exemptions sustain IE1 motor sales
Standard-efficiency IE1 motors still represent a significant portion of revenues in low-voltage (LV) motor markets that are meant to be moving to to higher efficiencies under government mandates.
Allied Motion buys Globe for $90m to double in size
Allied Motion Technologies is buying the US motor manufacturer Globe Motors on a cash-free, debt-free basis from Safran USA, for around $90m in cash.
Cyber-security standard tackles risks of using IT measures
The ISA (International Society of Automation) has published a standard that addresses the risks that arise from the growing use of business IT cyber-security measures to address cyber-security in complex and dangerous manufacturing and processing applications.
Latin American drives growth drops from double-digit highs
Sales of low-voltage AC and DC motor drives in Latin America will expand from $420m in 2012 to $595m in 2017 – with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 7.1% – according to a new forecast from IMS Research, now part of IHS.
China is causing a ‘shakeup’ in the pneumatics market
A “teeming mass” of Chinese manufacturers of pneumatic valves and actuators is expanding aggressively into the US and European markets, causing a competitive shakeup, according to a new report from the market analyst, IHS.
Motion control sales fell by 6.8% in first half of 2013
Global shipments of motion control products fell by 6.8% in the first half of 2013, according to statistics released by the industry trade group, the Motion Control Association (MCA).
China’s rare-earth producers face a series of setbacks
It appears that Chinese attempts to restrict its exports of rare-earth materials and to raise their prices may have backfired. Exports last year were more than 40% down on their peak levels, prices have dropped, some producers have gone out of business, and illegal mines and smugglers are thriving.
