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ABB completes acquisition of B&R

DUBAI, July 9, 2017

ABB, a pioneering technology leader, has completed its acquisition of B&R (Bernecker + Rainer Industrie-Elektronik), the largest independent provider focused on product- and software-based, open-architecture solutions for machine and factory automation worldwide.

B&R, founded in 1979 by Erwin Bernecker and Josef Rainer is headquartered in Eggelsberg, Austria, employs more than 3,000 people, including about 1,000 R&D and application engineers.

The transaction, which was announced on April 4, is financed in cash and expected to be operationally EPS accretive in the first year, said a statement from the company.

Ulrich Spiesshofer, chief executive officer, ABB, said: “This transaction closes our historic gap in machine and factory automation and expands our leadership in industrial automation.”

“Following the acquisition of B&R, we are the only industrial automation provider offering customers in process and discrete industries the entire spectrum of technology and software solutions around measurement, control, actuation, robotics, digitalisation and electrification,” he said.

“This combination will open new global growth opportunities by expanding our offerings to existing clients while also bringing ABB’s broad reach, extensive domain knowledge and deep technical expertise to industries and customers that we have not served before,” he added.

“Our commitment to growing the business of B&R is demonstrated by our investment in a new R&D centre, which is to be built next to its headquarters in upper Austria,” Spiesshofer concluded.

This transaction marks another important milestone in ABB’s Next Level strategy. With the acquisition ABB strengthens its position as the second-largest industrial automation player globally, said a statement.

ABB is now uniquely positioned to seize the tremendous growth opportunities created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. B&R’s industry-leading products, software and services in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Industrial PCs and servo motion-based machine and factory automation ideally complement ABB’s industrial automation portfolio for utilities, industry and transport and infrastructure providers.

Through the acquisition ABB is taking another major step in expanding its digital offering by combining its industry-leading portfolio of digital solutions, ABB Ability, with B&R's strong application and software platforms, its large installed base, customer access, and tailored automation solutions.

Peter Terwiesch, president of industrial automation division, ABB, said: “There is a strong cultural fit between B&R and us, including our shared commitment to customer-centric, open-architecture software and solutions.”

“This will ensure a smooth integration as we combine our strengths and maximize our uniquely comprehensive offering for the benefit of our customers,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: | ABB | acquisition | B&R |

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