Belden® makes major acquisitions

Belden has announced the acquisition of two major German companies to add strength to its activities in the industrial data transmission and process control markets as well as to increase the range of its products and services.

Belden, a leading international supplier of signal transmission solutions, has acquired  Hirschmann Automation and Control GmbH and has further announced an agreement to purchase Lumberg Automation Components GmbH. With these two acquisitions, Belden is establishing a significant position as a global industrial connectivity solutions provider for factory automation and Industrial Ethernet.

Hirschmann Automation and Control is a global market share leader for rail-mounted Industrial Ethernet switches and a leading provider of industrial connectivity. The company also leads in electronic control and safety systems for cranes and other load-bearing equipment. Lumberg Automation Components is a leading supplier of industrial connectivity products for factory automation machinery. The company's product scope includes industrial connectors, high performance cord-sets and field bus communication components.

Commenting on the acquisitions, Belden’s president and CEO John Stroup says: “We believe that the addition of Lumberg Automation Components and Hirschmann Automation and Control will transform Belden’s presence in the industrial automation market from that of a cable component supplier to that of a signal transmission solutions company and will reinforce our leadership in the industrial market.

“These acquisitions position Belden uniquely to serve customers who desire to integrate their industrial networks with their enterprise networks. By combining these two companies’ capabilities with Belden’s signal transmission expertise, we will be able to deliver networking solutions for the most demanding industrial environments and large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide.”

Mr Stroup added: “Our integration process will address greater product and commercial integration. The strength of our combined brands in the industrial connectivity market will be unsurpassed. And with Belden’s expanding global reach and this strong portfolio, we expect our revenue growth to accelerate in this market."

Lumberg Automation Components has a head office In Schalksmuhle with production facilities in both Germany and the US. 2006 revenue exceeded $75 million.

Hirschmann Automation and Control is headquartered in Neckartenzlingen. The company has two production facilities in Germany and three manufacturing joint ventures in China. Annual turnover is approximately $250 million and the company employs 750 people.