Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) announced today that it has
reached a definitive agreement to acquire the Safety and Automation
business of CEDES AG. CEDES´ Safety and Automation business is a
leading supplier of safety and measuring light curtains, as well as
other safety and non-safety optoelectronics, control units and related
accessories for industrial applications. Terms of the transaction were
not disclosed.
The CEDES Safety and Automation business is headquartered in
Landquart, Switzerland with sales offices primarily across Europe. The
business unit being acquired includes products, technology,
development engineering, marketing, sales and distribution to serve
the industrial safety and automation markets.
"As the global leader in the process and machine safety market,
Rockwell Automation´s acquisition of CEDES´ Safety and Automation
business will enhance a strategic segment within our product
portfolio," said Steve Eisenbrown, senior vice president of Rockwell
Automation. "Optoelectronic safety sensors, which include light
curtains, are one of the largest product segments of the machine
safety market. This acquisition will expand our comprehensive breadth
of competitive machine safety solutions for our customers worldwide."
Beat De Coi, CEDES chairman and founder, said: "For 20 years, we
have specialized in developing innovative optical sensor technologies
for a wide range of applications including industrial safety and
automation markets. Combining these capabilities with Rockwell
Automation´s global leadership in industrial automation control and
information systems will enable more manufacturers around the world to
help protect their workers from machinery and equipment accidents."
Subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, Rockwell
Automation expects the transaction to be completed early in the second
calendar quarter of 2008. After the acquisition is complete, customers
can continue to purchase products through the current distribution
network of CEDES´ Safety and Automation business. As products become
available under the Allen-Bradley brand, customers will also be able
to purchase them through the Rockwell Automation distribution network.
CEDES´ Safety and Automation business will be included in the
Architecture and Software operating segment.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a leading global
provider of industrial automation control and information systems and
services that help manufacturers achieve a competitive advantage in
their businesses. The company brings together leading brands in
industrial automation, including Allen-Bradley controls and services
and Rockwell Software factory management software. Headquartered in
Milwaukee, Wis., the company employs about 20,000 people serving
customers in more than 80 countries.
