Waldkirch/Germany, January 7, 2025 – SICK, an international provider of sensor-based automation solutions headquartered in Germany, and the Swiss measurement technology specialist Endress+Hauser are starting their strategic partnership for process automation. Both companies are joining forces to better support their customers and advance new technological solutions for the decarbonization of the process industry. Customers will now benefit from a broader product portfolio distributed from a single source via the global Endress+Hauser Sales Centers. The joint venture "Endress+Hauser SICK GmbH+Co. KG" will strengthen the development and production of analyzer and gas flow meter technologies, expanding the solution offerings. SICK is focusing on its core business of factory and logistics automation to meet the global demand for automation and digitalization even better.
Start of the partnership for process customers worldwide
After signing the contract in the summer of 2024 and a subsequent phase of preparation and antitrust review, the strategic partnership is now in effect. Around 800 SICK employees in the global Sales and Service Units in 42 countries with a focus on “Cleaner Industries” transfer to Endress+Hauser. In the Endress+Hauser Sales Centers, they market product solutions in the field of analyzer and gas flow meter technologies to additional process customers worldwide, thus reaching new markets and opening new fields of application. For customers, this means that the familiar SICK contacts are available at Endress+Hauser for consulting, sales, and service of process automation solutions. The product portfolio for process automation is now available at www.endress.com. Both partners place the highest priority on a seamless transition, continuous product availability and unchanged customer service quality.
The strategic partnership also includes the operation of a joint venture, which will strengthen and expand the range of process solutions for decarbonization. The "Endress+Hauser SICK GmbH+Co. KG" develops and produces product solutions for analyzer and gas flow meter technologies with around 730 employees from the previous SICK "Cleaner Industries" business. The company’s gas flow meters make it possible to switch to low-emission and non-fossil energy sources, for example, and the process analyzers allow reliable monitoring of emissions. As part of the partnership, the product solutions manufactured there will now be marketed by Endress+Hauser. From March 1, 2025, SICK and Endress+Hauser will each hold 50 percent of the joint venture.
"We are pleased that the strategic partnership for process automation is now starting. Together, we can better support customers worldwide and guide them into a sustainable future with leading technological solutions. We are convinced that the transformation of the process industry offers enormous opportunities for growth and development, which we will optimally leverage as strong partners," says Dr. Mats Gökstorp, Chairman of the Executive Board of SICK AG.
“This partnership is a perfect match. It creates new opportunities for growth and development, particularly in the sustainable transformation of the process industry. By joining forces, we offer added value to our customers. Our combined efforts will make us faster and ultimately more successful than if we acted alone. In this case, one and one equals more than two,” says Dr. Peter Selders, CEO of the Endress+Hauser Group.
Thanks to employees
Both CEOs express their gratitude to the employees on both sides who made this partnership possible. "Above all, we thank all the employees who have made the process automation business strong with their expertise and commitment and will continue this success story with the strategic partnership," says Dr. Mats Gökstorp. "We look forward to working with the people joining us and the joint venture to build something new and make this partnership a success,” adds Dr. Peter Selders.
Even stronger for customers in factory and logistics automation
Since its founding in 1946, SICK's core business has been in factory and logistics automation, which accounts for more than 80 percent of sales. This area remains unaffected by the strategic partnership in process automation, and customers can be even better served due to a stronger focus. Automation is crucial for industrial companies to secure their productivity despite limited resources. Industrial automation, which increases productivity through artificial intelligence and the digital networking of production and supply chains, requires sensor solutions.
SICK focuses on its core competencies in factory and logistics automation, such as protecting people with intelligent safety solutions, freeing them from repetitive tasks, making the manufacturing of goods more resource-efficient, or making logistics processes fast and transparent. The leading SICK solution portfolio enables higher productivity and better quality in industrial tasks. With customer requirements in mind, SICK combines sensor and AI technology to offer innovative solutions, such as AI-based camera sensors.
The existing product and solution portfolios of SICK and Endress+Hauser are complementary and leading in their fields of application. Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement and automation technology for process and laboratory applications. The family company, headquartered in Reinach, Switzerland, achieved net sales of more than 3.7 billion euros in 2023 with a total workforce of almost 17,000. Its own sales companies in more than 50 countries as well as representatives in another 70 countries ensure competent support.
SICK is one of the world’s leading solutions providers for sensor-based applications in the industrial sector. Founded in 1946 by Dr.-Ing. e. h. Erwin Sick, the company with headquarters in Waldkirch im Breisgau near Freiburg ranks among the technological market leaders. With 60 subsidiaries and equity investments as well as numerous agencies, SICK maintains a presence around the globe. SICK has more than 12,000 employees worldwide and generated a group revenue of EUR 2.3 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. Additional information about SICK is available at www.sick.com