HMS Industrial Networks acquires IXXAT Automation

HMS Industrial Networks acquires IXXAT Automation

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Together IXXAT and HMS will become an industrial communication group with 350 employees and sales of more than 50 million Euro a world market leader in our industry, says Staffan Dahlstrm, CEO of HMS Industrial Networks AB.

HMS Industrial Networks has acquired IXXAT Automation a leading supplier of communication technology for industrial automation, machine manufacturing and the automotive industry. IXXAT was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Weingarten, Germany.

IXXATs hi-tech products and services are great supplements to HMSs business, says Staffan Dahlstrm, CEO at HMS Industrial Networks. Their strong position especially on the German automation market will strengthen our presence in Central Europe. Together with our subsidiary in Karlsruhe, IXXAT will reinforce HMS in Germany - the worlds leading market for industrial communication solutions.

Image above: From left: Staffan Dahlstrm, CEO at HMS, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Konrad Etschberger, founder of IXXAT, Christian Schlegel, Managing Director at IXXAT.

While IXXAT is known as a leading supplier of CAN-based as well as EtherCAT-, Powerlink and FlexRay- communication technology, HMS has a leading position in the Profibus/Profinet and DeviceNet/EtherNet/IP markets. Together, the two companies will have the most complete and competitive offer of communication technology for the automation markets.

IXXAT

IXXAT Automation has a turnover of 14 million Euro and employs 85 people of whom 50 are product development engineers. IXXAT offers software and hardware solutions for CAN, a number of industrial Ethernet standards and IEEE 1588, FlexRay, and LIN.

They also offer customized hardware components within embedded subsystems as well as complete embedded system solutions for a broad range of world-wide markets like industrial, medical, power generation and automotive.

With more than 25 years of experience, IXXAT is a well-known supplier of products and services within embedded systems and data communication for industrial automation and the automotive industry. The company also develops technology platforms within safety solutions, according to IEC 61508.

IXXAT has subsidiaries in the U.S. and France and sells its products via distributors in 25 countries.

We see great opportunities to further widen the market for our product offering by getting access to HMSs well-established global sales channels, says Christian Schlegel, Managing Director IXXAT Automation. HMSs hi-tech product platforms will also be great assets for our ongoing development projects and for new technologies.

HMS Industrial Networks

HMS Industrial Networks is the leading independent supplier of products for industrial communication including remote management. HMS develops and manufactures solutions for connecting automation devices and systems to industrial networks under the Anybus and Netbiter brands.

Development and manufacturing take place at the headquarters in Halmstad, Sweden. Local sales and support are handled by branch offices in China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, UK, and USA. HMS employs over 260 people and reported sales of 42.5 million EUR in 2011. HMS is listed on the NASDAQ OMX in Stockholm.

The HMS operations in Central Europe are managed from Karlsruhe/Germany. With our team of 30 people located in Karlsruhe and Mulhouse(France) we are serving our customers in the German and French-speaking automation markets, says Michael Volz, General Manager of HMS Industrial Networks GmbH in Karlsruhe. Together with the IXXAT team in Weingarten, we will broaden our offer of standard communication products and can extend the services of our Solution Center for customized connectivity solutions.

Acquisition logics

IXXATs strong position on the important German market will widen the customer base of the HMS group and will allow cross-selling of the existing product lines. IXXAT holds a leading position in emerging functional Safety technology for automation including solutions for OpenSafety, CIP-Safety and Functional Safety over EtherCAT. In combination with HMSs new Anybus Safety concept which is focused on PROFIsafe, the HMS group will have the most complete technology offer for functional Safety solutions.

With 50 new development engineers, HMSs overall development resources will be strengthened both when it comes to headcount and experience. The acquisition also gives HMS the opportunity to market their products towards new segments such as medical equipment and the automotive industry.

HMSs world-wide sales channels will give IXXAT access to a wider market. In addition, HMSs experience within manufacturing and logistics will also provide opportunities for improved efficiency and profitability.

Together IXXAT and HMS will become an industrial communication group with 350 employees and sales of more than 50 million Euro a world market leader in our industry, concludes Dahlstrm.

LINK:	http://www.hms.se/readnews.asp?NID=163...
	See more stories from hms

Most recent headlines