News » World News Emerson increases its bid for Rockwell from $27bn to $29bn
UPDATED: Following Rockwell Automation’s recent rejection of a $27bn bid from Emerson for its business, Emerson has increased its offer to $29bn. Emerson is proposing to acquire all of Rockwell’s shares for $225 per share, consisting of $135 in cash and $90 in Emerson shares.
Rockwell Automation rejects $27bn bid from Emerson
Rockwell Automation has revealed that it has rejected at least two attempts by Emerson to acquire its business. In August, Emerson made an unsolicited bid, offering $200 per Rockwell Automation share, with approximately half of the offer in cash and half in Emerson shares. After Rockwell rejected this bid, Emerson made an increased offer on 10 October, consisting of $107.50 per share in cash and 225 million shares of Emerson common stock, worth about $107.50 per share.
Danfoss buys Finnish developer of ‘most efficient’ drivetrain
Danfoss is buying Visedo Oy, a Finnish developer of smart hybrid and electric drivetrains for commercial vehicles, heavy-duty machinery and marine applications. The terms of the deal have not been released.
Pentair spins off electrical activities into a new company
Pentair plc is spinning off its electrical activities – including the Schroff, Hoffman, Caddy, Erico, Raychem and Tracer brands – into a new company to be called nVent Electric. Its water activities will retain the Pentair name. The separation into two independent, publicly-traded companies is due to be completed in the second quarter of 2018.
Apple and GE join up to bring industrial apps to iPhones
Apple and GE have formed a partnership to deliver industrial apps that will bring predictive data and analytics from Predix, GE’s industrial Internet of Things (IoT) platform, to Apple's iPhones and iPads. The two companies have unveiled a software development kit (SDK) for Apple's iOS operating system, that gives developers the tools to make their own Predix-based industrial IoT apps.
Toyota and Hitachi to install IoT platform at automotive plants
Toyota Motor Corporation and Hitachi are collaborating to build an efficient production model based on Hitachi’s Lumada IoT (Internet of Things) platform, which incorporates technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and big data analysis.
Weidmüller buys W Interconnections from Rockwell
The German connectivity and automation manufacturer, Weidmüller, has bought Rockwell Automation’s W Interconnections group, which operates in the US, Canada and Mexico, with effect from 1 October, 2017. The group sells products for industrial connectivity and automation. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price or contractual details.
A third of industrial controls hit by cyber-attacks in early 2017
During the first half of 2017, the global manufacturing industry was the sector most susceptible to cyber-attacks – with the industrial control systems (ICSs) and manufacturing industry computers accounting for almost one third of all attacks, according to the cyber-security firm, Kaspersky Lab.
ABB’s $2.6bn GE deal will make it global switchgear leader
ABB’s recently announced acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions will allow it to leapfrog ahead of Siemens to become leader of the global switchgear market, according to a research note issued by IHS Markit. The market analyst estimates that ABB was previously behind Siemens and slightly ahead of Eaton in its share of this market, and that the GE acquisition will move it marginally ahead of Siemens.
ABB buys GE Industrial Solutions for $2.6bn
ABB is buying GE Industrial Solutions, GE’s electrical systems business, for $2.6bn, securing its second position in the $32bn global market, behind Schneider Electric, and ahead of Eaton and Siemens. It also expands ABB’s access to the North American market via GE’s large installed base and extensive distribution networks.
Omron sets up two robot production lines in the Netherlands
Omron has installed two new lines to produce parallel robots at its European manufacturing site in Den Bosch, the Netherlands. The aim is to cut lead times, accelerate responses and improve productivity for robots delivered to customers in Europe.
Brammer and IPH unite to create a €2.2bn MRO giant
The European industrial equipment distributors Brammer and IPH have joined forces to form a single business, called IPH-Brammer, with close to €2.2bn in revenues and more than 8,000 employees in 23 European countries. The MRO (maintenance, repairs and operations) business will be headquartered in London, with Pierre Pouletty, former CEO of IPH serving as CEO of the merged operation, and Hermann Maier, former CEO of Brammer, serving as its chief operating officer.
Machine-builders join forces to offer open IIoT platform
A group of machine-builders and software developers – consisting of DMG Mori, Dürr, Software AG, Zeiss and ASM PT – have formed a strategic alliance to set a new digital standard for machine- and plant-building, based on an open, non-proprietary IIoT platform, and customised to meet the needs of machine- and plant-builders and their customers. They want to establish the platform, called Adamos (ADAptive Manufacturing Open Solutions), as a global standard for the sector and to attract other machine-builders to become partners.
Rockwell CEO Blake Moret becomes chairman as well
Rockwell Automation has announced that Blake Moret, the company’s president and chief executive, has been elected chairman of the board, succeeding Keith Nosbusch, who has been chairman since 2005 and will remain a director. Moret will take on his expanded role on 1 January, 2018.
Festo and Huawei collaborate on smart 5G manufacturing
The Chinese telecommunications and electronics giant Huawei has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the German pneumatics and automation supplier Festo to explore the use of ultra-high-speed 5G networks in manufacturing, and to promote the digital transformation of manufacturing using 5G “slicing” technology.
