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ABB buys US software technology for drug manufacture

Swiss technology group ABB is to acquire pharmaceutical software technologies from the United States group, Base Ten Systems.

ABB said on Thursday that it was acquiring Base Ten’s Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) software, which is used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. The company said the acquisition would significantly expand ABB’s industrial IT capabilities.

ABB said it was already the world’s leading supplier of industrial automation systems for chemical synthesis, an early stage of pharmaceutical production.

The cost of the deal was not disclosed.

Jörgen Centerman, ABB executive vice president and head of the company’s automation segment, said the purchase would extend ABB’s software capabilities in the pharmaceuticals market “so the we can deliver a complete IT solution covering the whole value chain”.

Base Ten has its headquarters in Trenton, New Jersey, and employs some 40 people in its MES-related activities, including an office in Mechelen, Belgium.

The deal is the second in a week between ABB and a US software company. On October 5, ABB said it would create an industrial information technology joint venture with SKYVA International, taking a 53 per cent stake for $130 million (SFr226 million).

The transactions are part of ABB’s strategy to branch out into information technology, software solutions and e-business.

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