Rockwell Automation has boosted it presence in the machinery monitoring sector by buying Entek IRD International for an undisclosed sum.

Rockwell president Keith Nosbusch describes the acquisition as "a logical next step" which will increase the value of Rockwell`s asset management business to more than $200m.

Entek is a global leader in the machinery monitoring business and employs 4,000 people at sites around the world, including a UK office in Chester. The company, which was formed in 1996 when Entek Scientific bought IRD Mechanalysis, has more than 15,000 machine monitoring systems installed worldwide.

Entek`s advanced predictive technology allows manufacturers to optimise the use of their machines. "Predicting the reliability of a single piece of machinery on the plant floor, and making that information available throughout the manufacturing enterprise, can be the difference between a few minutes of preventive maintenance and hours of downtime to repair a failed motor or other part," says Mike Laszkiewicz, general manager of Rockwell Automation`s asset management business.