International News
Advantech and Microsoft Corporation have signed an agreement for Microsoft Embedded systems. The deal gives Advantech the go-ahead to distribute Windows Embedded software across South East Asia. This represents a significant milestone for Advantech whose stated goal is to transform Windows Embedded Software solutions into the most accessible and easily applied product for the embedded computing community.
Beijer Electronics has acquired German HMI (human machine interface) business Elektronik-Systeme Lauer through its HMI Products business area from listed group Augusta Technologie of Germany. Lauer generated sales of some 12 m Euro in 2006 and has 60 employees. The purchase price is approximately 6 m Euro and the acquisition was financed with cash.
Can In Automation (CiA) has released several new and updated CANopen specifications. Most important is the CiA 311 XML electronic data sheet (EDS) specification. It defines the XML schema to be used for the electronic description of CANopen devices. The specification is based on the ISO 15745 standard. In the future, XML electronic data sheets will substitute the well-known ASCII-based EDS as specified in CiA 306. EDS are used by configuration, diagnostic, and testing tools to get information about the CANopen device to be configured, diagnosed, or tested.
Emerson Process Management has opened two technology centres in Tianjin, China, to help meet the rising demand for control-valve and valve-automation products for the growing process manufacturing industry in the Asia Pacific region. The new centres feature advanced flow laboratories. Here, Emerson research and product design engineers will investigate valve technologies and verify valve-performance capabilities.
Endress+Hauser Group has inaugurated its new 'Sternenhof' office and conference complex in Reinach near Basel/Switzerland. The company invested around 57 million Swiss Francs (approx. 34 million Euros) in the biggest building project in its corporate history. The new building offers 19 500 m² of office, conference, laboratory, training and exhibition space. Over 200 guests attended the ceremonial opening, among these many representatives from politics and the business community.
Honeywell has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement valued at approximately $260 million to acquire Enraf Holding B.V., a division of privately held Delft Instruments, based in Delft, The Netherlands. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. Enraf Holding consists of six groups that offer comprehensive solutions for the control and management of transportation, storage and blending operations in the oil and gas industry. Following regulatory approvals, Enraf will form part of Honeywell Process Solutions.
Metso Automation has been selected to modernise the control system for LOTT Alliance in the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant, Olympia, Washington, USA. The treatment plant processes between 38 000 and 45 000 m³ of wastewater daily. The delivery consists of two phases. In the first phase the controllers will be renewed and in the second one the new I/O-interfaces will be modernised. The first phase of the project is scheduled for August 2007 and the second for June-August 2008.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation recently announced financial results for fiscal year 2007. The Industrial Automation Systems business reported total sales of 956,9 billion yen: an 11% increase from the previous fiscal year. Operating income was up 30,2 billion yen to 126,2 billion yen. The company reported that the factory automation systems business saw an increase in sales resulting from capital investments related to flat panel display and surface mounting systems in the first half of the fiscal year, and robust power distribution business and capital investments related to semiconductors in the latter half of the fiscal year.
Richter Chemie-Technik celebrates 50 years in business this year. The company supplies chemical process pumps, shut-off, control and safety valves for corrosive, hazardous, contaminated, pure and high-purity fluids to the chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
Ruggedom, provider of rugged communications networking solutions designed for mission-critical applications in harsh environments, recently announced the completion of its IPO (initial public offering) and secondary offering of 3 080 000 common shares at a price of $13,00 per common share for gross proceeds of $36 506 275 to RuggedCom and $3533 725 to certain selling shareholders.
WBF's XML Working Group has announced that it has developed XML schemas based upon the ISA-88 and ISA-95 families of standards. The XML schemas are known as BatchML - Batch Markup Language and B2MML - Business to Manufacturing Markup Language. Both markup languages consist of W3C (World Wide Web Consortium, www.w3c.org) format XML schemas and documentation and aid in implementing the popular ISA standards.
Local news
B&W Instrumentation and Electrical (B&W) debuted strongly on the JSE AltX in July. The pre-listing private placement was 49 times oversubscribed and the share opened at a premium to its R1 per share private placement, giving the company a market capitalisation listing of R416 million.
Powertech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Altron, has announced that it is to purchase a portion of IST Group for R505 million. The five IST divisions that will be acquired are Energy, Otokon, Data, Telecom and Industrial. This deal excludes IST's defence and nuclear divisions, and is subject to certain conditions including approval by the competition authorities.
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version