ABB to acquire B&R

ABB recently announced the acquisition of B&R (Bernecker + Rainer Industrie-Elektronik GmbH), the largest independent provider focused on product- and software-based, open-architecture solutions for machine and factory automation worldwide.

B&R is headquartered in Eggelsberg, Austria and employs more than 3,000 people, including about 1,000 R&D and application engineers. It operates across 70 countries, generating sales of more than USD 600 million (2015/16) in the USD 20 billion market segment.

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B&R combines state-of-the-art technology with advanced engineering to provide customers in virtually every industry with complete solutions for machine and factory automation, motion control, HMI and integrated safety technology.

With industrial fieldbus communication standards like POWERLINK and openSAFETY, as well as the powerful Automation Studio Software development environment, B&R is constantly redefining the future of automation engineering.

  • Acquisition of B&R will close ABB’s historic gap in machine and factory automation.
  • Creating a uniquely comprehensive automation portfolio for customers globally.
  • B&R is a proven innovation leader in Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Industrial PCs (IPC) and servo motion-based machine and factory automation.
  • B&R's software and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions further strengthen ABB’s digital offering.
  • Clear commitment to B&R's growth strategy, mid-term sales ambition of > USD 1 billion annually.
  • Continuity of B&R's management, founders support integration phase as advisors.
  • B&R's headquarters in Eggelsberg, to become ABB’s global centre for machine and factory automation.
  • Transaction closing expected in summer 2017.
  • Purchase price was not disclosed.

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Article source ElectricNet - information source for electrical power professionals
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