Invensys acquires Walsh automation, validation units
The two businesses, which employ about 320 people, generated about US $30 million in sales for the year ending December 31, 1999. They have facilities in Montreal, Toronto, and Quebec City, Canada; Dublin, Ireland; Princeton, NJ; Baton Rouge, LA; and London, UK.
Both units will continue to operate under their existing names as part of the newly formed Invensys Software Systems Div. The new unit includes Wonderware, Simulation Sciences, APV Systems, Baan, and the Foxboro software business.
"The Walsh Companies' focus on optimizing industrial plant performance is a perfect fit with Invensys' strategy of delivering measurable economic performance improvement," says Invensys chief executive Allen Yurko.
"Walsh's expertise in system integration and project management also will strengthen our capabilities to deliver innovative, sensor-to-boardroom solutions.
"In recent years, our two companies have partnered successfully on many automation projects in the pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, food, and mineral processing industries. Walsh will continue Invensys' global services strategy of platform independence."
The emphasis on services and platform independence is not a coincidental. At a press conference last week at ISA Expo 2000, Invensys emphasized that its new software division makes 60% of its income as a systems integrator (with the remaining 40% divided between software and hardware sales).
Invensys Software Systems will also increasingly reach out other software developers for new products.
For its part, Walsh sees the acquisition as a way to enhance the integration services it provides its clients.
Walsh Automation provides project management and system integration services for process control, advanced control, expert systems, and machine vision systems. It is a certified Wonderware systems integrator.
Validation Technologies provides validation and related services to the pharmaceutical industry.
Edited by Alan S. Brown
Managing Editor, Chemical Online
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