Rockwell Automation Agrees to Acquire Entek IRD
Rockwell Automation is expanding its machinery condition monitoring capability by agreeing to acquire Entek IRD International Corporation. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of April, will enhance Rockwell Automation's ability to provide value-added services that reduce customers' downtime and maintenance costs at their manufacturing facilities.
This transaction adds the Entek and IRD brands of condition-based monitoring equipment, analysis software, professional services, and Internet services for the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) marketplace to Rockwell Automation's portfolio of asset management services. Entek's products and services are currently used by thousands of manufacturers for machinery optimization.
Rockwell Automation can link vital information about the performance of plant floor equipment to a manufacturer's Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system, providing valuable information to its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, according to Keith Nosbusch, president, Control Systems, Rockwell Automation.
"Entek's advanced predictive technology, coupled with its Web-enabled open platform and industry-leading analysis software, made this acquisition a logical next step and grows Rockwell Automation's asset management business to more than $200 million," Nosbusch said. "The synergy of our combined organizations will quickly be translated to exceptional value and scope for our customers."
According to Chantal Polsonetti, vice president at ARC Advisory Group, Entek's online and portable plant floor monitoring, analysis, and integration strengths complement Rockwell Automation's integrated architecture and existing asset management resources. In addition, Entek's offering will complement the EAM capabilities recently added to Rockwell Automation through a strategic alliance with PSDI. The combination will deliver critical information about developing faults in machinery to the maintenance management components of PSDI's MAXIMO EAM software package, through the ERP system and on to the extended supply chain for repair part procurement.
"Predicting the reliability of a single piece of machinery on the plant floor and making that information available throughout the manufacturing enterprise can be the difference between a few minutes of preventive maintenance and hours of downtime to repair a failed motor or other part," adds Mike Laszkiewicz, GM-asset management business, Rockwell Automation. "That can mean significant cost and quality benefits for manufacturers in any industry."
Rockwell Automation, a business of Rockwell International Corporation, brings together leading brands in industrial automation, including Allen-Bradley controls, Reliance Electric power transmission products, Dodge mechanical power transmission components, and Rockwell Software.
Entek, with headquarters in Milford, Ohio, was formed in July 1996, the result of Entek Scientific Corporation's purchase of IRD Mechanalysis Inc.