German sensor manufacturer SICK and Swiss automation technology expert Endress+Hauser have announced a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing their process automation offerings. Under the agreement, Endress+Hauser will take over global sales and service for SICK’s process analyzers and gas flowmeters, while a joint venture will be established to handle their production and development. This collaboration is expected to improve customer support and drive advancements in efficiency and sustainability.
The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed in October 2023, is set to be finalized by the end of 2024, pending approval from antitrust authorities. As part of the arrangement, approximately 800 sales and service employees from SICK across 42 countries will transition to Endress+Hauser, enhancing their ability to deliver comprehensive solutions and reach a broader market.
Starting in 2025, a new joint venture will be responsible for producing and advancing process analyzers and gas flowmeters. The venture, with equal stakes held by both companies, will employ around 730 people at various German locations and will collaborate closely with Endress+Hauser’s centers of expertise to drive product innovation.
The merger of SICK’s and Endress+Hauser’s process technology offerings will integrate their respective strengths. SICK’s solutions are widely used in sectors such as waste management, energy, steel, cement, oil and gas, and shipbuilding. The partnership aims to leverage their combined technological and market expertise to support sustainable transformation in the process industry and help customers navigate the decarbonization of their production processes.
Dr. Peter Selders, CEO of Endress+Hauser, emphasized the benefits of the partnership, noting it will provide opportunities for mutual growth and enhance customer, employee, and company benefits. Dr. Mats Gökstorp, Chairman of SICK AG, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the goal of jointly advancing process automation and sustainability.
Both companies are committed to maintaining favorable working conditions for their employees during the transition. SICK, which remains a leading provider in factory and logistics automation, will continue to independently support its process automation clients until the partnership is fully implemented.
