ABB strengthens digital grid portfolio with acquisition

ABB will strengthen its digital grid portfolio and software focus with the acquisition of KEYMILE’s communication networks business.

The acquisition will bring with it key products, software and service solutions, as well as research and development expertise. These will further enhance the company’s digital offering, ABB Ability, by adding extremely reliable communications technologies that are essential to maintain today’s dynamic and complex digital electrical grids. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2017. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the deal.

KEYMILE is headquartered in Hanover, Germany with 350 employees globally and was founded in 2002 through a merger of three technology companies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It is a leading manufacturer of mission-critical and broadband telecommunication solutions, with installations across 100 countries.

The acquisition of KEYMILE’s mission-critical communication business will strengthen this position and extend our market reach in the industrial, transportation and infrastructure sectors, said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s Power Grids division. “This move supports our growth plans and digitalisation push as part of our ABB Ability offering, as we strengthen our position as the partner of choice in enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”

KEYMILE’s mission-critical communication business base includes network operators of energy grids, railways, oil and gas pipelines, as well as public authorities. The 120 employees of the acquired business will join the Grid Automation business unit of ABB’s Power Grids division.

“Reliable telecommunications become increasingly important as the number of connected devices increases. While digitalisation provides opportunities for operational efficiencies and asset optimisation, it also brings new complexities in maintaining mission-critical operations,” said Rolf Unterberger, CEO of KEYMILE.