SI Maverick Tech acquires GE Energy’s automation services biz

GE Automation Services employs over 300 associates in sixteen facilities throughout the U.S. offering expertise in such areas as batch and continuous processes, packaging and material handling, motion control systems, electrical systems, installation, and maintenance/repair. 

With this transaction, Maverick will also be acquiring the controlling interest of C.F. Picou Associates, Inc., a leading global provider of advanced process control design and implementation services based in Baton Rouge, LA. 

This latest move follows Maverick’s recent announcement of the company’s formation of and participation in the Global Systems Integrator Alliance (GSIA), a worldwide alliance of leading business consulting and integration firms. With this acquisition and the GSIA formation, Maverick claims to be the largest independent provider of integrated automation, business, reliability, and service solutions for the manufacturing and distribution industries.

The systems integration market has traditionally been divided between small local independent companies and large worldwide vendor service organizations such as ABB, Emerson Process Management, and Rockwell Automation. Maverick is attempting to redefine the competitive landscape by becoming large enough to compete head on with vendors.

Control Design's Senior Technical Editor Dan Hebert broke this story and says, "If executed properly, this Maverick initiative could be very successful. As an independent, Maverick should be attractive to end users wanting truly unbiased consulting and implementation services. As a relatively small low-overhead player as compared to vendor service organizations, Maverick should be very cost competitive. Maverick should also be able to offer more stability, geographic coverage, and range of expertise than smaller independent system integrators."