ifm electronic invests in SA

March 2008 News

ifm electronic, with its head office and production facilities based in Germany, has acquired Shorrock Automation’s local ifm division and will operate as ifm electronic SA. The new ifm electronic SA will commence business operations on 1 March 2008 and share Shorrock Automation’s existing premises in Centurion. ifm electronic has subsidiaries in over 40 countries, and together with its distributors, is represented in over 70 countries worldwide.

Shorrock Automation, specialist supplier of process control and factory automation products, and ifm electronic, have had a long and successful relationship going back to 1978 when the local company acquired the sole ifm electronic agency for South Africa and southern African countries. ifm electronic is renowned worldwide for its high-tech development and production of high quality and innovative sensors and controllers for industrial use.

ifm SA will operate under the directorship of Michael Pitschlitz, the present MD of Shorrock Automation. The new MD of Shorrock Automation will be Chris Huxham who is at present the marketing manager.

According to Michael Pitschlitz, ”The acquisition of ifm electronic has been outstanding testimony of how well Shorrock Automation has increased the turnover of ifm products over the years and grown the ifm products into a market force. We are proud that ifm, a leader in its field, sees the potential in our local industry and has decided to invest in South Africa.”

Shorrock Automation will continue with its current agency lines namely, WAGO connection and I/O systems, ReeR optoelectronic safety barriers, ProFace HMIs and industrial PCs, eWON Ethernet gateways and industrial routers and Woodhead Connectivity industrial cables, connectors and balancers.

For more information contact Celia de Beer, ifm electronic SA, +27 (0)12 345 4449, www.ifm.com

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