Swiss technology company ABB has announced the acquisition of automation specialist Bernecker & Rainer (B&R). The transaction expands ABB's industrial automation offering to include B&R's products and software solutions in the areas of PLCs, industrial PCs and servo drives, making it a full-service provider in industrial automation with a comprehensive range of open automation solutions.
„B&R is a gem in the world of machine and factory automation. The combination of B&R and ABB offers a unique opportunity for both our companies. This transaction is a true milestone for ABB as B&R closes the historic gap in ABB's automation offering. We are a perfect fit: In the future, we will be the only company that offers its industrial automation customers the full range of technology and software solutions around measurement and control systems, drives, robotics, digitalisation as well as electrification. With this acquisition, we are continuing our Next-level strategy consistently. With our then unique digital offering and our installed base of more than 70 million connected devices, 70,000 control systems and now more than 3 million automated machines and 27,000 factory installations, we are enabling our customers worldwide to capitalise on the enormous opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,“ explains Ulrich Spiesshofer, CEO of ABB.
New business unit
The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. According to the company, ABB will finance the acquisition entirely with cash.
