Beijer Electronics has signed a new strategic agreement with ABB, regarding the supply of the all-new generation of operator terminals, based on the new platform Beijer Electronics power panel (BEPP). BEPP was launched in autumn 2004 and the first deliveries under Beijer Electronics' proprietary brand EXTER began in early 2005.
ABB will sell the new operator terminals globally through the company's worldwide organisation. The terminals will be marketed and sold under ABB's proprietary brand and have their own ABB design.
- The agreement is another confirmation of the new terminals' competitiveness and that our good co-operation with ABB now can be further enlarged and intensified, says Göran Sigfridsson, CEO of Beijer Electronics.
The agreement comprises the entire new product program that Beijer Electronics has launched so far, which means five terminals in the larger segment - three with touch screens and two with key panels. Beijer Electronics will now customise the terminals to ABB's needs. This means integration with ABB's control system through adaptation of hardware as well as software. The first deliveries to ABB are estimated to begin in early 2006.
Beijer Electronics has delivered terminals from present product program to ABB since autumn 2001. The volumes have gradually grown and represent an important part of HMI Products' sales today. The agreement regarding present product program will continue as before.
Business area HMI Products increased sales by 16.8 per cent to SEK 173.4 M and posted an operating profit of SEK 29.4 M for the full-year 2004. In the first quarter this year, the sales rose by 8.3 per cent to 48.3 M. In this period, the new terminals accounted for 16 per cent of the sales. The terminals are sold through the in-house export organisation and through a co-operation agreement with Mitsubishi Electric.
End of March, Beijer Electronics acquired the Taiwanese HMI corporation Hitech Electronics. Hitech Electronics had a turnover of SEK 118 M in 2004 and will thereby become a strong contribution to the sales of the HMI Products business area. Hitech Electronics was consolidated into Beijer Electronics' accounts from 1 April and the integration of the company has proceeded according to plan.