- Dr. Georg H. Endress, founder of Endress+Hauser, died on Dec. 14, a few weeks before his 85th birthday, in Arlesheim, Switzerland.
- The 1 millionth ABB standard, or general purpose, drive—types ACS550 and ACH550—rolled off the production line in 2008, becoming the first of an ABB drive range to hit this significant figure.
- Omron selected EtherCat as its next motion bus system, intending to develop EtherCat-based servo motors and inverters and motion controllers in 2009.
Mergers, Alliances & Acquisitions
- Haydon Switch & Instrument merged with Kerk Motion Products to create HaydonKerk Motion Solutions.
- Schneider Electric signed a reseller agreement with Dassault Systems for its Delmia software.
- Euroimpianti acquired C&D Robotics and updated its company name to C&D Skilled Robotics.
- Vacon extended its supplier agreement with U.S.-based Eaton Electrical for variable-speed AC drive technology.
- Custom switch supplier Microprecision Electronics acquired Wilbrecht Electronics’ LEDCO Division, provider of precision, LED assemblies, microswitches and sealed position switches. The new entity will operate under the name Wilbrecht LEDCO.
