ABB acquires Jokab Safety, helping low-voltage, machine safety
ABB, manufacturer of power and automation technology group, plans to acquire Jokab Safety International AB for an undisclosed amount.
| Control Engineering :
– Industrial drive has integrated safety, swappable memory block ; |
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Jokab Safety offers a new category 4 two-hand control device: Safeball is a new approach to the design of one and two-hand safety devices, the company says. Safeball consists of a spherical ball containing two embedded push button switches, one on each side of the ball. By using this push button configuration, the risk of unintentional activation is minimized and the device is simple and ergonomic to use. In the case where two-hand control is used, both Safeballs (all four push buttons) have to be activated within 0.5 seconds. |
ABB, manufacturer of power and automation technology group, announced on Feb. 15 that it will acquire 100% of the shares in Jokab Safety International AB for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is expected to be completed in March subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Founded in Sweden in 1988, Jokab Safety develops innovative products and solutions for machine safety. The company has around 120 employees worldwide, with a presence in Sweden, USA, Canada, Italy, China, France and UK.
"This investment is fully in line with our strategy to broaden our offering through value-creating acquisitions," said Tom Sjökvist, head of the ABB low voltage products division, under which Jokab Safety will reside. "Through this acquisition both ABB and Jokab will strengthen their total offering. Together we can meet customers’ increasing requirements for low-voltage products and machine safety in a better way."
With the acquisition ABB’s North America operations will add around 50 new employees, bringing extensive machine safety expertise into the company, ABB said.The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people.
www.jokabsafetyna.com/the-news/127-safeball-a-unique-new-category-4-two-hand-control-device
– Control Engineering article: Integrated Safety: Has its Time Arrived ?
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief, Control Engineering , www.controleng.com.
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