Renewed merger mania shakes control field

Control and automation firms in the U.S. and worldwide are experiencing a new bout of mergers and acquisitions. Three major mergers were unveiled on Nov. 23 alone, including Tyco buying AMP, GE Fanuc buying Total Control Products (see both stories below), and Siebe, parent of Wonderware and Foxboro, merging with BTR (see this issue's "Global Update" section).

By Staff December 1, 1998

Control and automation firms in the U.S. and worldwide are experiencing a new bout of mergers and acquisitions. Three major mergers were unveiled on Nov. 23 alone, including Tyco buying AMP, GE Fanuc buying Total Control Products (see both stories below), and Siebe, parent of Wonderware and Foxboro, merging with BTR (see this issue’s “Global Update” section). These follow ABB’s recently initiated purchase of Elsag Bailey, Rockwell Automation’s purchase of Anorad, and Woodhead Industries’ acquisition of SST, among others. For some added analysis of the global urge to merge, see this issue’s “Market Update” section.