ABB to acquire B&R

ABB has announced the acquisition of B&R, the largest independent provider focused on product and software-based, open-architecture solutions for machine and factory automation worldwide. B&R, founded in 1979 by Erwin Bernecker and Josef Rainer is headquartered in Eggelsberg, Austria, employs more than 3000 people, including about 1000 R&D and application engineers. It operates across 70 countries, generating sales of more than US$600 million (2015/16) in the US$20 billion machine and factory automation market segment. The combination will result in an unmatched, comprehensive offering for customers of industrial automation, by pairing B&R's innovative products, software and solutions for modern machine and factory automation with ABB’s world-leading offering in robotics, process automation, digitalisation and electrification.