Oct. 31, 2016 – Pepperl+Fuchs, a global provider of process automation and applications, has purchased ecom instruments, a supplier of mobile devices for hazardous areas.
“ecom instruments pioneered mobile explosion protection products,” said Gunther Kegel, Pepperl+Fuchs CEO. “Now with a 15-per-cent annual growth rate, this acquisition fits our portfolio well, and it reinforces our market position as the global leader in explosion protection technology.”
According to Kegel, the move “significantly” expands its product offering and allows it to “accelerate the rate of new developments in technology and products well into the future.”
With a “well-established international sales force,” Pepperl+Fuchs said it anticipates “significant growth” in this segment.
“This acquisition enables us to not only strengthen our offering in the field of explosion protection, we can also achieve a much better market position and consequently generate new solutions around the multifaceted Industrie 4.0,” continued Kegel.
ecom’s product offerings include cell phones, 4G smartphones, tablets, PDAs, cameras and beacons, many of which are rated for Zone 1/21, Division 1 hazardous areas or Zone 2/22, Division 2 areas.
“The expertise in explosion protection and the wide-spread international sales force of Pepperl+Fuchs made them our favourite partner from the very beginning,” added Rolf Nied, founder and managing partner of ecom instruments GmbH. “Our innovative devices do not only fill a gap in their portfolio, but allow ecom instruments and Pepperl+Fuchs to develop future business models and solutions at the Center of Competence at Assamstadt to gain access to the enormous growth potential of the ongoing digitalization of industry.”
— With files from Pepperl+Fuchs
