♦  Rockwell Automation has reported sales for the 2010 fiscal year of $4,857m – a 12% increase on 2009. CEO Keith Nosbusch reports signs that spending on large capital projects is improving, although timings are still uncertain. He is predicting a revenue growth of 8–12% for 2011.

♦  The market analyst Frost & Sullivan predicts that the European Scada market, which as worth $1,325m in 2009, will expand to more than $1,900m by 2016. This growth will be driven by investments in Europe’s electricity and water sectors, supported by EU funding. Security regulations and compliance demands will also spur demand, it adds.

♦  Parker Hannifin and Brammer have signed a strategic pan-European partnership agreement, designed to extend the level of support and product availability that both companies offer to customers in the fluid power sector.  Initially covering 15 countries, the agreement will provide guaranteed supply of Parker pneumatic, hydraulic, filtration and instrumentation components and systems to key accounts and end-users.

♦  Emerson’s chief operating officer Edward Monser has taken on the additional role of president, which has been held since 2005 by Emerson’s chairman and chief executive, David Farr. Monser has been with Emerson for more than 25 years.