Pepperl+Fuchs, a developer of industrial automation technology, announced that it will acquire the business of Comtrol Corp. effective Feb. 1. Comtrol is an US-based manufacturer of industrial Ethernet communication and IO-Link gateway products, known for its RocketPort product family, among others. Comtrol’s technologies will complement Pepperl+Fuchs’ portfolio of Sensorik4.0 sensor solutions and interface technologies that includes AS-Interface, IO-Link masters and industrial connectivity, the company says. Expanding its offering of Ethernet communication products and field-interfacing devices ties into Pepperl+Fuchs’ Industry 4.0 strategy and will allow the company to provide even more solutions that close the gap between field devices and the control level, it adds.

“An enhanced Pepperl+Fuchs IO-Link product range will help our customers improve the flow of data from field devices to the control level and the cloud. Customers will be able to turn to a single, trusted partner to help develop their newest digital business processes,” said Reiner Müller, President of the Factory Automation Division at Pepperl+Fuchs, in a statement.

Comptrol will join the Factory Automation Division of Pepperl+Fuchs and will be known as Pepperl+Fuchs Comtrol Inc. Pepperl+Fuchs Comtrol will continue its presence in Minneapolis. 

“Comtrol thanks it’s loyal customers for their support and business over the past 38 years. We look forward to continuing our great technology leadership and innovation in serial, Ethernet and IO-Link solutions. Comtrol is excited to join Pepperl+Fuchs in creating new IoT and Industry 4.0 innovations, enabling sensor data visibility to cloud solutions,” said Bradford Beale, president of Comtrol Corp., in a statement.