Solutions for Data Transmission in Automation

Belden Inc., headquartered in St. Louis (Missouri, U.S.A.), has consolidated its affiliated Belden Europe (Venlo, The Netherlands), HEW-Kabel (Wipperfürth, Germany), Hirschmann Automation and Control (Neckartenzlingen, Germany) and Lumberg Automation (Schalksmühle, Germany) companies into the newly formed business unit of Belden EMEA. Its operational headquarters will be located in the greater area of Stuttgart (Germany). Dr. Wolfgang Babel, who already headed Hirschmann and Lumberg Automation, was named President of Belden EMEA. Together, with more than 2,200 employees worldwide, the four companies combine comprehensive expertise in the field of data transmission. Besides a broad portfolio of copper and fiberoptic cables as well as automation components, Belden EMEA will - in future - also provide solutions for the communications technology in automation. To this end, the business unit plans to further complement its activities with proprietary developments as well as through acquisition. Turnover, which totalled approx. EUR 550 million in 2007, is expected to be doubled within the next few years.

Belden EMEA forms the umbrella for five operating divisions: Industrial Networking, Industrial Connecting Solutions, Electronic Control Systems, Cable Infrastructure, and Cable Specialty. The product portfolio ranges from data cables and connectors to I/O modules and networking devices. Furthermore, wireless communication systems are playing an increasingly important role in the Belden EMEA offering.

“While hitherto we have been serving the automotive technology market mainly with components, we will now also concentrate on industry specific solutions in which our products are optimized to the needs of our customers and will be offered in comprehensive packages, including the required maintenance,” explained Dr. Babel.

In order to serve the relevant vertical markets – especially including mechanical engineering, energy, traffic as well as food and beverage – even better than before, the sales structures, amongst others, will receive a stronger focus on the regional needs of customers. “In view of our comprehensive product portfolio from standard to special cables and various different fieldbus interfaces to Ethernet components, this approach is essential, if only because regional markets today show clear differences in their respective industry mix, customer composition, instrumentation philosophy, market access and legal regulations. Of course we will maintain and expand proven sales channels according to market conditions,” the Belden EMEA President emphasized.

A further focal point, in this context, will be the regional expansion of services. “By providing comprehensive services from advice and planning to training and technical support, we will help our customers with the implementation of tailor-made networking and communications structures for integral data transmission consistency from the central control to the PLC and down to the field layer.

Another field of activity of Belden EMEA is the production of systems and components by the Electronic Control Systems division for load indication, load moment limitation and overload control for cranes and equipment such as telehandlers, aerial work platforms or excavators. Dr Babel: “Here, we already offer complete solutions from sensors and controllers to consoles, which have made us the world leader in this market segment.”

Belden EMEA has offices in over 15 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Unites States and Asia, and a network of sales partners on all five continents. Products are manufactured at sites in Germany, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Czechia and Hungary. With its global presence, Belden EMEA is close to its customers and can optimize its support for their automation projects.

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