The latest expansions and contractions - October 2016

Oct. 20, 2016
Emerson acquires U.K.-based Permasense Ltd.; ABB unveils new manufacturing facility; and more

 Emerson Process Management agreed Oct. 3 to acquire U.K.-based Permasense Ltd., a provider of non-intrusive corrosion monitoring technologies. Permasense monitoring systems use unique sensor technology, wireless data delivery and advanced analytics to continuously monitor for metal loss.

 Honeywell UOP introduced Sept. 20 a new software-based program, Connected Performance Services (CPS), to allow refiners and processing plants to improve performance. CPS leverages the IIoT to tap Honeywell’s process knowledge, design expertise and understanding of catalysis with software from Honeywell Process Solutions.

• The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) announced Oct. 5 that Adrian Fahey has joined its board. He will finish the term vacated by Diane Trentini from Optimation, who resigned after a career change. Fahey is CEO of Sage Automation, a CSIA-certified system integrator in Melrose Park, Australia.

• nkt cables GmbH reported Sept. 21 that it’s acquiring ABB’s global high-voltage cable system business, which has a total enterprise value of €836 million (U.S. $934 million). The two firms also signed an agreement for long-term strategic partnership.

 ABB opened a 85,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility on Sept. 30 in Senatobia, Miss., where it will produce ABB Tmax XT molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) and ABB Emax 2 air circuit breakers, which were previously manufactured overseas. The plant will create 300 new jobs by its fifth year of operation.

• Ametek Scientific Instruments, a unit of Ametek Inc., has agreed with the Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry-Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (LEPA-EPFL) of Switzerland to promote, develop and sell the laboratory’s soft probe technology for scanning electrochemical systems (SECM). Soft probe technology overcomes well-known limitations with traditional SECM. 

 GE Digital has purchased Meridium Inc., which provides asset performance management (APM) software and services for asset-intensive industries. GE Digital reports the acquisition will help it enhance its APM offering.