News » World News Digital factory market ‘will be worth $111bn by 2026’
The digital factory market is expanding at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 35% and will be worth $111bn by 2026, according to a new report from ABI Research. Technologies included in its definition of “the digital factory” include PLCs, robots, motors and pumps.
Megadyne and Ammeraal Beltech appoint a joint CEO
The belt-makers Megadyne and Ammeraal Beltech have appointed a Stijn Vriends as their combined CEO. His appointment follows the recent agreement by Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, to acquire and merge both companies to create a full-service provider of industrial transmission and lightweight conveyor belts.
Nidec kicks off German 'shopping spree' with Graessner
The acquisitive Japanese motor-maker Nidec has bought the privately-owned German precision gear-maker MS-Graessner for an undisclosed sum. According to the Japanese news agency Nikkei, this the first of five acquisitions of German automation and robotics companies that Nidec is planning to make before March 2019, with a combined value of around 50 billion yen ($450m).
Danfoss buys Axco, Finnish maker of PM motor and generators
Danfoss is buying Axco-Motors, a Finnish manufacturer of large electric motors and generators – in ratings from 250kW up to 6MW – for applications such as renewable energy, marine vessels and off-highway vehicles. The financial terms of the deal have not been revealed.
UK’s Megger buys Baker motor-testing business from SKF
The UK test equipment manufacturer Megger Group has entered into an agreement with SKF to purchase its Baker Instrument business which makes equipment for testing and diagnosing electric motors and other rotating machines. The terms of the deal of have not been disclosed.
Yaskawa buys Siemens’ share of their automation JV
Yaskawa is buying Siemens’ share of their 50:50 joint venture, Yaskawa Siemens Automation & Drives (YSAD), giving it full control of the business. YSAD will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Yaskawa on 1 November, and will be renamed Yaskawa Automation Drives (YAD).
Electronics distribution giant targets automation
Digi-Key Electronics, the US-based global distributor of electronic components, has set its sights on becoming the world’s leading supplier of industrial automation (IA) components as well. The company has added more than 14,000 automation parts to its portfolio, including products from Sick, Idec, Carlo Gavazzi and Belden.
SKF sells linear motion business to Triton for $310m
SKF is selling its linear and actuation technology business, SKF Motion Technologies, to the venture capital company Triton for a total of SEK 2.75bn ($310m) on a cash- and debt-free basis. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2018, provided that it receives regulatory approvals and is accepted by employee bodies.
Timken buys Italian linear motion specialist, Rollon
The US-based Timken Company is buying the Italian linear motion products specialist Rollon Group, for an undisclosed sum.
Cone Drive returns to US ownership as Timken buys it
The US bearings and power transmission company, Timken, is buying the precision mechanical drives manufacturer, Cone Drive, from Scotland’s Clyde Blowers Capital (CBC), for an undisclosed amount. The deal marks a return to American ownership for Cone Drive, which CBC acquired in 2008 as part of the Textron’s gear technology division (which also included AB Benzlers, the David Brown Group, Maag Pumps and Union Pumps).
ABB buys intrion to boost its logistics automation presence
ABB is buying the Belgian robotics automation provider intrion, with the aim of boosting its expertise in fast-growing logistics automation market. The two parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the transaction, which is expected to close later this year.
Megadyne and Ammeraal acquired in €2bn deal
Partners Group, the private markets investment manager, is buying two industrial belts businesses – the Italian group Megadyne and the Dutch firm Ammeraal Beltech. The combined value of the two transactions, which both include investments from their management teams, is €2bn. Partners Group is buying Ammeraal from Advent International (which acquired it in 2015), and Megadyne from its owners the private equity firm Astorg, the investment manager Fondo Italiano di Investimento, and the Tadolini family, which has run the business since Corrado Tadolini founded it in 1957.
HMS buys German embedded comms specialist Beck IPC
Sweden’s HMS Industrial Networks has acquired the German embedded communications specialist Beck IPC for €5m in cash. If Beck IPC achieves defined financial targets, an additional €2m may be paid in 2020.
Industrial automation market will approach $210bn in 2018
The global market for industrial automation equipment was worth an estimated $202.2bn in 2017, and is predicted to grow by 3.8% this year to reach $209.8bn, and by a further 4% during 2019 to hit $218.2bn, according to the latest analysis by IHS Markit. It says that the growth is being driven by the strong global economy, and by the expanding production of increasingly automated machines.
Pilz enters robot market with open, modular family
The German industrial safety specialist Pilz has entered the robotics market with a portfolio of modular products including a six-axis robot arm, a control module incorporating drive technology, and an operator module. The products made their debut at the recent Automatica exhibition in Germany, where Pilz was also demonstrating a prototype two-arm robot.
