Rockwell Automation to acquire Hiprom

Milwaukee-based industrial automation and information firm, Rockwell Automation, is to purchase Hiprom, a process control and automation systems integrator based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
With Hiprom customers including the top global mining firms with precious metal and coal operations in the Sub-Saharan region, Rockwell expects the acquisition to strengthen its position in this rapidly-growing region and expand its presence in the global mining and mineral processing market.
Rockwell, which employs about 19,000 people, serving customers in more than 80 countries, plans to integrate Hiprom’s management team and all its 100 employees in the Rockwell Automation Systems and Solutions business unit.
Speaking of the move, Terry Gebert, vice president and general manager, Rockwell Automation Systems & Solutions business said: “Strategically, this acquisition further strengthens our global project management and delivery capabilities and adds critical mass for our delivery of customer solutions in the rapidly growing Sub-Saharan market as well as globally in the mining, metals and minerals industries.
“We look forward to a successful integration of the Hiprom domain expertise, project management and engineering talent into our global systems and solutions team.”

The deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011, is subject to the approval of regulatory authorities in South Africa.