Rockwell Automation Completes Acquisition of Plex Systems

Rhea-AI Summary

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) has completed its acquisition of Plex Systems, enhancing its cloud-native smart manufacturing offerings. Plex's platform, serving over 700 customers and managing 8 billion transactions daily, will integrate with Rockwell’s existing software solutions, including FactoryTalk. The acquisition aims to better support industrial clients transitioning to cloud solutions, bolstering Rockwell’s position in the market. Both companies emphasize the strategic importance of this merger for optimizing customer operations and facilitating smart manufacturing.

Positive

• Acquisition of Plex Systems strengthens Rockwell's cloud-native smart manufacturing portfolio.
• Plex's SaaS platform enhances Rockwell's existing offerings, providing multi-tenant solutions at scale.
• Integration with Rockwell’s FactoryTalk suite aims to optimize operations for customers.
• Over 700 Plex customers and 8 billion daily transactions highlight market demand and platform reliability.

Negative

• Integration challenges may arise from the acquisition of Plex Systems.
• Potential risks linked to retaining key personnel and unforeseen liabilities from the acquired company.

Transaction expands Rockwell’s cloud-native smart manufacturing offering

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Plex Systems, the leading cloud-native smart manufacturing platform.

Plex offers the only single-instance, multi-tenant Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) manufacturing platform operating at scale, including advanced manufacturing execution systems, quality, and supply chain management capabilities. It has over 700 customers and manages more than 8 billion transactions per day. Plex will be reported as part of Rockwell’s Software and Control operating segment which provides leading hardware and software offerings for the design, operation, and maintenance of production automation and management systems.

“Plex Systems joins Rockwell at the perfect time, as more customers are starting to move their industrial applications to the cloud,” said Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation. “Plex’s software capabilities will be further differentiated by Rockwell’s global market access, complementary industry expertise, and ability to turn real-time data into actionable insights. This will allow us to better serve our customers with cloud-native solutions that are easy to implement, use, and maintain. We are excited to complete this acquisition and welcome Plex and its employees into Rockwell.”

“Rockwell’s industrial and digital transformation leadership along with its geographic and industry scale make it the ideal home for the entire Plex Systems community of customers, partners, and employees,” said Bill Berutti, CEO of Plex Systems. “We are eager to integrate our Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform with Rockwell’s FactoryTalk suite to deliver on our commitment to optimize our customers’ operations and bring smart manufacturing to life.”

Today, Plex delivers tremendous value to customers in high-volume, highly repetitive discrete and process manufacturing sectors such as automotive parts, metal fabrication, electronics, food & beverage, and aerospace. Together with the advanced, cloud-native asset maintenance and management capabilities provided by Rockwell’s earlier acquisiton of Fiix, the combined offering is ideal for customers in industries like life sciences and consumer packaged goods that are focused on complying with regulatory requirements and meeting consumer expectations in areas like product quality, safety, and sustainability.

HI-LEX, a leading global automotive supplier, is a customer of both Plex Systems and Rockwell Automation.

“At HI-LEX, our vision is to be a world-class manufacturer by providing quality, cost-effective, and on-time products on a global scale to our customers,” said Dr. Brad Semp, Chief Operating Officer of HI-LEX. “We’re excited to see these two industry-leading suppliers come together to accelerate our digital transformation and deliver on that vision.”

“We continue to see the adoption of cloud solutions accelerate within the industrial sector, but many struggle with how to best integrate these solutions into their operations to maximize benefits and minimize risk,” said Kevin Prouty, Group Vice President, Energy and Manufacturing Insights at IDC. “The acquisition of Plex Systems fits the strategy for Rockwell to meet manufacturers where they are and deploy systems that can be configured to meet specific needs.”

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 24,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.

About Plex Systems

Plex Systems, Inc., a Rockwell Automation company, is the leader in cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions, empowering the world’s manufacturers to make awesome products. Our platform gives manufacturers the ability to connect, automate, track, and analyze every aspect of their business to drive transformation. The Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform includes solutions for manufacturing execution (MES), ERP, quality, supply chain planning and management, Industrial IOT and analytics to connect people, systems, machines and supply chains, enabling them to lead with precision, efficiency and agility.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements (including certain projections, guidance, and business trends) that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “believe”, “estimate”, “project”, “plan”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. The opinions, forecasts and projections regarding the expected benefits of the acquisition; future opportunities for the acquisition and its products and solutions; and any other statements regarding the future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance of the acquired company, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to the ability to successfully integrate and achieve expected benefits of the acquisition, the ability to retain and hire key personnel; challenges, risks and costs associated with integrating the operations of the acquired; risk relating to any unforeseen liabilities of the acquired company; and other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210901005065/en/

Pam Bednarczyk

Manager, External Communications

+1 414-403-4952

pbednarczyk@rockwellautomation.com



Jessica Kourakos

Head of Investor Relations

+1 414-382-8510

JKourak@rockwellautomation.com



Justin Finnegan

SHIFT Communications (on behalf of Plex)

+1 917-952-4752

Plex@shiftcomm.com

Source: Rockwell Automation, Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of Rockwell Automation's acquisition of Plex Systems?

The acquisition enhances Rockwell's cloud-native smart manufacturing capabilities, allowing better service to customers transitioning to cloud solutions.

How does Plex Systems contribute to Rockwell's offerings?

Plex offers a multi-tenant SaaS platform that integrates advanced manufacturing execution systems and supply chain management, vital for optimizing production operations.

When did Rockwell Automation complete the acquisition of Plex Systems?

Rockwell Automation announced the completion of the acquisition on the date of the press release.

What impact might the acquisition of Plex Systems have on Rockwell Automation's stock (ROK)?

The acquisition may enhance Rockwell's market position and revenue potential, positively influencing ROK's stock performance in the long run.

What are the main challenges following the acquisition of Plex Systems by Rockwell Automation?

Integration challenges, retaining key personnel, and managing unforeseen liabilities from Plex may pose risks post-acquisition.