Austria-based injection molding machinery company Engel Holding GmbH has purchased manufacturing execution systems (MES) provider T.I.G. (Technische Informationssysteme GmbH).
The company said the acquisition is another step in its Industry 4.0 strategy, but has not disclosed a financial figure for the deal.
The companies have been close partners in the past, Engel noted in a news release, and T.I.G will be managed as an independent subsidiary. Engel states that the two MES solutions, e-factory by Engel and authentig by T.I.G., will continue to be offered independently as stand-alone solutions and both will continue to be developed.
Engel CEO Peter Neumann said: "E-factory is an essential component of our inject 4.0 program, with which we support our customers in the digitalization of their manufacturing processes. This is why our investment in T.I.G. is strategically significant. Together, we can respond in an even more targeted fashion to the often very individualized requirements of our customers, thereby adding greater value for the customer, and strengthening the competitive ability of both companies."
“We have ambitious plans together,” added Stefan Engleder, chief technical officer. “The digitalization of manufacturing processes in the plastics industry is rapidly gaining in importance. I am looking forward to even more intense collaboration with the T.I.G. team."
In the 2015-16 financial year Engel saw sales of more than 1.25 billion euros ($1.38 billion). It employs more than 5,400 people worldwide.