New subsidiaries boost Beckhoff hardware and software development capabilities for Industrial PC technologies MINNEAPOLIS, December 6, 2006 – To better serve rapidly growing global demand and bring leading automation technologies to market faster, Beckhoff Automation GmbH, based in Verl, Germany, has acquired two Industrial PC technology companies. Both located in Münster, Germany, Embedded-Logic Design & More GmbH (ELDM) and BeDeHa GmbH are expert developers of Embedded PC technology and have long-standing experience in this sector. ELDM specializes in the development of PC motherboards while BeDeHa distributes and adapts BIOS software. "Even before these acquisitions, our company had a strong reputation as a technology leader for PC-based automation and controls.
Working together with ELDM and BeDeHa, we strengthen our technical foundation and development capabilities,” said Hans Beckhoff, managing director of Beckhoff Automation. “We are now better positioned to offer Beckhoff Industrial PCs and Embedded PCs in all performance classes with motherboards that are fully developed and manufactured in-house." "We had already been developing motherboards and PC hardware components in-house for a long time. The teams from the new subsidiaries will strengthen these activities,” said Hans Beckhoff.
“Our intensified motherboard and BIOS development initiatives enable us to respond more quickly to new technologies in the PC market and to customer-specific requirements." The two newly acquired companies will remain based at their current locations and will continue to act independently in the market. Further expansion of the subsidiaries is planned under the management of directors Kai Flatter and Wulfhard Schneider. Development capacities for the subsidiaries will be expanded and a new building will be ready in 2007. Beckhoff Automation provides advanced, open automation products based upon proven technologies so that customers can implement high performance control systems faster and at a lower overall cost than traditional PLC and motion control systems.
Beckhoff’s “New Automation Technology” product range includes PC based control, industrial PCs, automation controllers, operator interface, I/O, servo drives and motors. With representation in more than 60 countries, Beckhoff is well positioned to provide global sales and service to its customers. Sales and service are handled directly, with no intermediaries involved to provide faster response and improved communications.
