Emerson acquisition of Afag expands factory automation capabilities

Emerson has announced it has acquired Afag Holding AG, a manufacturer of electric linear motion, feeding and handling automation solutions.

The electric linear motion segment expands Emerson’s served market by more than US$9 billion and is expected to grow mid-single digits annually, the company says, supporting Emerson’s long-term, profitable organic growth.

Afag, headquartered in Zell, Switzerland, is said to enhance Emerson’s capabilities in factory automation and creates a leading motion portfolio that combines Afag’s electric linear motion solutions with Emerson’s pneumatic motion technology. Afag serves customers in markets that include battery manufacturing, automotive, packaging, medical, life sciences and electronics.

“Afag brings exciting technology that will enable Emerson to accelerate growth in our existing $900 million factory automation business,” said Ram Krishnan, chief operating officer of St. Louis, MO-based Emerson.

“As discrete and hybrid customers continue to accelerate electrification across their manufacturing processes, Afag’s technology is ideally suited to provide improved energy efficiency and performance gains.”