GE Intelligent Platforms
GE Intelligent Platforms is a business unit of GE Home & Business Solutions.[2] GE Intelligent Platforms is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, and consists of three units: Software and Services, Military & Aerospace Systems, and Control & Communications Systems.
GE Fanuc and Fanuc GE CNC Europe were joint ventures of FANUC Ltd.(Japan) and General Electric Co. (USA). In August 2009 GE and FANUC agreed to dissolve the joint venture, this was completed in December 2009. The Software, Mil/Aero and Control Systems businesses became part of General Electric and the CNC division became part of FANUC Ltd..
Divisions
Automation (Control and Communications Systems Business or CCS)
GE Intelligent Platforms designs, manufactures, and supplies hardware and software products for industrial control and automation. Hardware products include programmable logic controllers (PLCs), programmable automation controllers (PACs), motion control products, and operator interfaces. Software products include HMI/SCADA and process industry solutions.
GE Intelligent Platforms participates in the global PLC market. It sells its products directly as well as through solution providers, OEMs, integrators and distributors.
PLCs are widely used in factories and plants to coordinate the activity of components in an assembly line with information from sensors. PLCs are also used in controlling the movement of large structures, such as sports arenas with movable roofs.
Software
As well as Automation software (programming and configuration and HMI/SCADA), GE Intelligent Platforms also designs and supplies higher level Operations Management software products including a data historian and MES suite for production management. This far-ranging family of analytical and productivity software is marketed using the name Proficy.
Embedded Systems
GE Intelligent Platforms' Automation business is paralleled by operations in the embedded computing industry, where the company's product line was built largely through multiple acquisitions since 2001.
History
- 1986: "GE Fanuc Automation Corporation is jointly established in the U.S.A. by FANUC and General Electric. Under the new JV company, three operating companies, i.e. GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc., in the U.S.A., GE Fanuc Automation Europe S.A. in Luxembourg and Fanuc GE Automation Asia Ltd. in Japan were established. The Asian company was established in 1987."[3]
- 2005-01: GE Fanuc Automation Europe S.A. is reorganized into GE Fanuc Automation CNC Europe S.A. (consolidated to FANUC LTD) and GE Fanuc Automation Solutions Europe S.A. (consolidated to GE Fanuc Automation Americas Inc.)[4]
- 2007-10-15: Company is renamed to GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms (and GE Fanuc Automation Solutions Europe SA becomes GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Europe SA).[5]
- 2007: Change the name from GE Fanuc Automation CNC Europe to Fanuc GE CNC Europe.[6]
- 2009-08-17: GE and Fanuc agree to dissolve joint venture.[7]
- 2009-12-11: GE and Fanuc finalise dissolution of joint venture.[8]
Acquisitions
This section may be incomplete for years prior to 2000.
- 1998-03-01: completed acquisition of AFE Technologies (first purchased 70% in late 1996) [9]
- 1998-11-23: acquired Total Control Products[10]
- 2000-06-30: acquired DataViews Corp[11]
- 2001-09-21: acquired VMIC[12]
- 2002-11-05: acquired Intellution, Inc.[13]
- 2003-03-17: acquired RAMiX[14]
- 2003-06-17: acquired Mountain Systems, Inc.[15]
- 2006-03-27: acquired (technology assets of) Condor Engineering[16]
- 2006-06-07: acquired SBS Technologies[17]
- 2006-11-28: acquired Radstone Technology PLC[18]
- 2008-03-31: acquired process technology assets from MTL Instruments Group[19]
- 2011-01-02: acquired SmartSignal, Inc.[20]
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/111/111772.html Yahoo Finance, Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
- ^ Charlene Begley, President and CEO, GE Home & Business Solutions, Retrieved on 2010-04-20.
- ^ FANUC's History, Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ Major Changes at GE Fanuc, Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ GE Fanuc Automation Name Change Information, Retrieved on 2008-04-24, (WebCite archive)
- ^ official Fanuc GE CNC Europe's website
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.controleng.com/article/270647-GE_Fanuc_Buys_Rest_of_AFE_Holdings_Forms_Integration_Team.php
- ^ "GE Fanuc Agrees To Purchase Total Control Products". The New York Times. 1998-11-24. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E0D81F30F937A15752C1A96E958260. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ "GE Acquires DataViews Corp.". Managing Automation. 2000-07-01. http://www.managingautomation.com/maonline/news/read/GE_Acquires_DataViews_Corp_16059. Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Finalizes Acquisition of VMIC, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Automation Completes Acquisition of Intellution, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Acquires RAMiX, Leader in Embedded Computing, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Acquires Mountain Systems Inc., Providers of Advanced Manufacturing Execution Systems for Essential Industries, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Completes Acquisition of Technology Assets of Condor Engineering, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Completes Acquisition of SBS Technologies, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Completes Acquisition of Radstone Technology PLC, Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
- ^ GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Acquires Process Technology Assets From MTL Instruments Group To Enhance Solution Offerings, Retrieved on 2007-05-29.
- ^ http://www.smartsignal.com/smartsignal-acquired-by-ge.aspx