German sensor company SICK and the Swiss measurement and automation technology specialist Endress+Hauser have agreed on a strategic partnership. Endress+Hauser will take over worldwide sales and service of SICK’s process analysers and gas flowmeters, with a joint venture to be established for their production and further development. The aim of the partnership is to provide customers with better support in increasing their efficiency and sustainability.
SICK and Endress+Hauser signed a memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership in October 2023. Since then, the project has been examined and plans for implementing the cooperation have been drawn up. Following approval by the respective supervisory bodies, representatives of both companies have now signed a corresponding agreement. The closing of the transaction is planned for the turn of the year 2024/2025 and is subject to approval by antitrust authorities.
Worldwide sales and service
As a key aspect of the strategic partnership, Endress+Hauser will take over sales and service for process analysis and gas flow measurement technology completely. Around 800 specialised sales and service employees in 42 countries will transfer from SICK to Endress+Hauser. Customers will benefit by receiving more products from a single source. The global Endress+Hauser sales network will enable additional customers to be acquired, more industries to be reached and new applications to be developed.
Joint venture for development and production
From 2025, the production and further development of process analysers and gas flowmeters will be the responsibility of a joint venture in which each partner will hold a 50% stake.
It will employ about 730 people at several locations in Germany. The joint venture will work closely with Endress+Hauser’s competence centres to drive product innovations forward efficiently.
For process automation
The two companies’ offerings in process technology complement each other. SICK’s products are currently used, in particular, in waste incineration plants, power, steel and cement plants, in the oil and gas industry, in chemical and petrochemical plants and in shipbuilding, for example, for analysing emissions in flue gas cleaning or for measuring the flow of natural gas and hydrogen.
Mutual benefit
“This strategic partnership opens up opportunities for growth and development for SICK and Endress+Hauser. We are taking this path because by collaborating and networking we can achieve more together in a reasonable amount of time than either company could achieve on its own – for the benefit of our customers, employees and both companies,” says Dr Peter Selders, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group.
“Our further aim is to drive the sustainable transformation of the process industry and to support our customers in leveraging the opportunities presented by decarbonisation. That is why SICK and Endress+Hauser are combining their technological and market expertise. In the interest of our customers and employees, we look forward to the strategic partnership and to shaping the future of process automation together,” says Dr Mats Gökstorp, Chairman of the Executive Board at SICK AG.
Both companies see the sustainable transformation of the process industry as a business opportunity. Together, they want to provide a higher level of support to customers in important areas such as energy and resource efficiency and climate and environmental protection as well as assisting with the decarbonisation of their production processes. SICK and Endress+Hauser have worked together often on an order, project and customer basis. The two family-owned companies also share a long-term corporate approach.
“We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues with their valuable expertise. The planned transition will be carefully prepared so that we can continue to grow together,” says Peter Selders.
Factory and logistics automation
SICK is one of the world’s leading solutions providers for sensor-based applications in the industrial sector. With 60 subsidiaries and shareholdings as well as numerous agencies, it maintains a presence around the globe. The company has over 12 000 employees. The core business of factory and logistics automation, which accounts for more than 80% of SICK’s sales, will not be affected by the partnership.
Business continuity
Both companies are currently working on ensuring a seamless transition of the business at the turn of the year. Until the closing, SICK and Endress+Hauser will continue to support their process automation customers independently.
For more information visit: www.endress.com