GE Fanuc Automation

Infobox Company
name = GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms

type = Private (subsidiary of General Electric)
foundation = Charlottesville, Virginia (1987)
founder =
location_city = Charlottesville, Virginia
location_country = USA
key_people = Maryrose Sylvester President & CEO, Erik Udstuen Vice President
area_served = Worldwide
industry = Industrial Equipment & Componentshttp://biz.yahoo.com/ic/111/111772.html Yahoo Finance, Retrieved on 2007-08-16.]
products = automation hardware and software, CNC, embedded products
revenue = US $135.80 million (2007)
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees = 1,850 (2007)
parent = General Electric
divisions = GE Fanuc Embedded Systems
homepage = [http://www.gefanuc.com gefanuc.com]
footnotes =

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a joint venture between FANUC Ltd. of Japan and General Electric, is a business unit of GE Enterprise Solutions [ [http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070801005911&newsLang=en Begley to Lead GE Enterprise Solutions] , Retrieved on 2007-08-01.] . GE Fanuc is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia,and consists of three units: Embedded Systems, Automation (hardware and software), and CNC (Computer Numerical Control). In October 2007 GE Fanuc combined these 3 divisions into a brand named GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms.Capabilities and products include controllers, embedded systems, software, motion control, computer numerical controls, operator interfaces, industrial computers, and lasers. In Europe Fanuc GE CNC Europe is responsible for the CNC business.

Fanuc GE CNC Europe is a joint venture of FANUC LTd.(Japan) and General Electric Co. (USA). The company markets CNCs and drive systems in close relationship to European machine tool builders. Machine tool users are also supported in order to give them more productivity. The company headquarters is located in Echternach (Luxembourg) and the company has 13 subsidiaries around Europe.

Divisions

Embedded Systems

GE Fanuc's Automation business is paralleled by operations in the embedded computing industry, where GE Fanuc operates as GE Fanuc Embedded Systems, built largely through acquisition since 2001.

Automation

GE Fanuc 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, process industry solutions, and production management solutions.

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.

GE Fanuc is considered by someweasel-inline to be third in the global PLC market, behind Allen-Bradley (a brand of Rockwell Automation) and Siemens AG.Fact|date=June 2008 GE Fanuc sells its products directly as well as through solution providers, OEMs, integrators and distributors.

Computer Numerical Control

GE Fanuc's Computer Numerical Control business provides machine tool controls and solutions, servo drives and motors, computer numerical control productivity solutions and industrial CO₂ lasers. In Europe Fanuc GE CNC Europe is responsible for the CNC business.

History

Corporate Structure

* 1955: Fuji Automatic Numerical Controls (FANUC) is formed in Japan as a subsidiary of Fujitsu, and creates first public-sector NC in Japan.
* 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." [ [http://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/profile/history/index.html FANUC's History] , Retrieved on 2007-05-04.]
* 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.) [ [http://www.fanuc.co.jp/en/news/2004/0412/0412_gefanuc.html Major Changes at GE Fanuc] , Retrieved on 2007-05-04.]
* 2007: Change the name from GE Fanuc Automation Solutions Europe to GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/intelligentplatforms_legal.htm GE Fanuc Automation Name Change Information] , Retrieved on 2008-04-24, ( [http://www.webcitation.org/5XKI19JNM WebCite archive] )]
* 2007: Change the name from GE Fanuc Automation CNC Europe to Fanuc GE CNC Europe. [ [http://www.fanucge.com official Fanuc GE CNC Europe's website] ]

Acquisitions

This section may be incomplete for years prior to 2000.
* 1998-11-23: acquired Total Control Products [cite news | title = GE Fanuc Agrees To Purchase Total Control Products | publisher = The New York Times | date = 1998-11-24 | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E0D81F30F937A15752C1A96E958260 | accessdate = 2007-05-03 ]
* 2000-06-30: acquired DataViews Corp [cite news | title = GE Acquires DataViews Corp. | publisher = Managing Automation | date = 2000-07-01 | url = http://www.managingautomation.com/maonline/news/read/GE_Acquires_DataViews_Corp_16059 | accessdate = 2007-05-03 ]
* 2001-09-21: acquired VMIC [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/pressroom/20010927_VMIC.htm GE Fanuc Finalizes Acquisition of VMIC] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2002-11-05: acquired Intellution, Inc. [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/pressroom/20021105_Intellution.htm GE Fanuc Automation Completes Acquisition of Intellution] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2003-03-17: acquired RAMiX [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/pressroom/20030317_ramix.htm GE Fanuc Acquires RAMiX, Leader in Embedded Computing] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2003-06-17: acquired Mountain Systems, Inc. [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/pressroom/20030617_mtnsys.htm GE Fanuc Acquires Mountain Systems Inc., Providers of Advanced Manufacturing Execution Systems for Essential Industries] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2006-03-27: acquired (technology assets of) Condor Engineering [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/pressroom/literature/20060327_Condor.doc GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Completes Acquisition of Technology Assets of Condor Engineering] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2006-06-07: acquired SBS Technologies [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/pressroom/literature/20060607_sbsacquisitioncomplete.doc GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Completes Acquisition of SBS Technologies] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2006-11-28: acquired Radstone Technology PLC [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/Downloads/en/20061128_radstoneclose_pressrelease.pdf GE Fanuc Embedded Systems Completes Acquisition of Radstone Technology PLC] , Retrieved on 2007-05-03.]
* 2008-03-31: acquired process technology assets from MTL Instruments Group [ [http://www.gefanuc.com/as_en/docs/652344_1206968084_20080331_mtl_pressrelease.pdf GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Acquires Process Technology Assets From MTL Instruments Group To Enhance Solution Offerings] , Retrieved on 2007-05-29.]

ee also

* FANUC LTD

External links

* [http://www.gefanuc.com/ GE Fanuc's web site]
* [http://www.fanucge.com/ Fanuc GE's web site]
* [http://www.ge.com/ General Electric's web site]
* [http://www.gefanucembedded.com/ GE Fanuc Embedded Systems web site]

References