Ecom instruments from Assamstadt in Germany was established 30 years ago, and has specialised in portable equipment suitable for use in the most hazardous areas of a plant, ie Zone 1 rated explosion hazard areas on a petrochemical plant, etc. This extends from a torch, through to a mobile phone, PDA, laptop etc, as well as measuring instruments and calibration equipment. They recently developed into providing similar barcode scanner systems, plus intelligent software and applications.
At the end of October it was announced that Pepperl + Fuchs of Mannheim, also in Germany, a family-owned company well known for industrial sensor systems and explosion protection in general, had acquired the whole business of ecom instruments GmbH. In this way P+F adds to their existing (static) explosion protection portfolio and know-how offering by including mobile devices and solutions.
Dr Gunther Kegel, CEO of P+F, commented “In ecom instruments we found an industry pioneer with 15% growth rate lately who, for decades, proved and strengthened his technology leadership in mobile explosion protection and now complements our offering with a competitive portfolio reaching far into the future”.
“Besides the expanded product portfolio we can see new opportunities arising along the entire value added chain. With this we can not only strengthen our offering in the field of explosion protection, but we can achieve a much better market position – with a partner from our region – and consequently generate new solutions around the complex of Industrie 4.0”.
Rolf Neid, the Founder and Managing Partner of ecom Instruments, commented: “The expertise in explosion protection and the wide-spread international sales force of Pepperl+Fuchs made them our favourite partner from the very beginning. Our innovative devices do not only fill a gap in their portfolio, but allow ecom instruments and Pepperl+Fuchs to develop future business models and solutions at the Center of Competence at Assamstadt to gain access to the enormous growth potential of the ongoing digitalization of industry”.
P+F hazardous area business
The P+F Process Automation Division is world-market leader in the field of explosion protection in hazardous areas using intrinsic safety. Furthermore, the Division offers large varieties of application-oriented system solutions for process industries. The portfolio consists of analogue isolation barriers, fieldbus topology systems, remote I/O systems, HART interfaces, level control sensors, purge systems, HMI devices, as well as power supplies and signalling devices.
The P+F UK factory in Wednesbury, in the Midlands, produces Exd and Exe junction boxes, cabinets and control panels and switching systems for hazardous area use, plus accessories such as light fittings, floodlights and beacons for hazardous areas. The factory, originally known as Walsall Ltd, was acquired by P+F in 2009, and a visit to see the expanded operation in 2012 was reported on Processingtalk.info – see the story “P+F invests in factory for Exd, Exe housings”
