Siemens on the Controlotron trail

Controlotron and Siemens have signed an asset purchase agreement for Siemens to acquire the assets and the business activities of Controlotron, which is based in Hauppauge, New York, USA.

Siemens intends to operate the company from its Hauppauge location, which it plans to make a centre of competence for ultrasonic flow measurement. Controlotron, a manufacturer of ultrasonic clamp-on flowmeters, employs a staff of around 120 to whom Siemens will extend formal offers of employment one week prior to the closing. The company expects to close the deal in May 2006 and did not disclose terms.

The ultrasonic clamp-on devices from Controlotron calculate the flow of liquids or gases extremely accurately without intervening in the pipeline. Two sensors are clamped onto the outside of the pipe for this purpose. Key applications include the oil and gas industry, the water/wastewater sector and energy and pipeline applications.

The acquisition is seen by industry analyst ARC Advisory Group as a good one as there is virtually no overlap between the companies and so this acquisition bolsters Siemens' expanding field device product line without any unwanted products and technologies to rationalise. The expected quick integration of Controlotron into Siemens Energy & Automation will position Siemens to capture its share of the accelerating growth of the field device market that is expected to match or exceed levels achieved in 2005.