Company Announcement - Yokogawa announces the acquisition of Industrial Evolution Inc. to strengthen its provision of advanced solutions to the process industries. The acquisition of Industrial Evolution, a provider of cloud-based plant data sharing services, was carried out through Yokogawa Venture Group Inc., a wholly owned Yokogawa subsidiary that was recently established for the purpose of executing strategic mergers and acquisitions for the industrial automation and control business. Expansion of the advanced solutions business in the industrial automation and control field is one of the main strategies set out in Yokogawa’s Transformation 2017 mid-term business plan. Based on Industrial Evolution’s cloud business environment, Yokogawa will provide Data-as-a-Service (DaaS)*, an advanced solution that will generate new value for its global customer base.

Industrial Evolution’s DaaS Business
Using its cloud-based DaaS technology, Industrial Evolution collects real-time process data from devices and systems at a variety of industrial facilities, and provides this in a direct or customized form to the companies that operate such facilities as well as their customers and vendors. Industrial Evolution’s service is capable of collecting data from firewall protected systems and securely shares this with authorized users via website or mobile access.

Industrial Evolution is a pioneer in this field and its data collection and sharing service is used by a wide range of companies, including a number of Fortune 100 companies. This service can be used in a broad variety of applications such as the sharing of data on oil and gas field operations among authorized users at multiple companies and the real-time sharing of data with investors on facilities that are operated by third parties. Industrial Evolution’s customers have a high regard for the company’s engineering and other services that facilitate the provision of this data in an easy-to-use form.

Future Development
Yokogawa has been in the business of offering advanced packaged software solutions that enable mainly industrial customers to improve productivity, safety, and energy efficiency and optimize the utilization of facilities. With Industrial Evolution’s cloud-based service as a core offering, Yokogawa will now be able to enhance its advanced solutions business by providing new value to its customers.

Commenting on this acquisition, Satoru Kurosu, a Yokogawa director and executive vice president who heads the Solutions Service Business Headquarters, said, “At Yokogawa, we are committed to sustaining growth with our customers by identifying the challenges that they face in their businesses and working with them to present solutions that add new value. In the industrial segment, Industrial Evolution is a pioneer in the utilisation of IoT, and their technology will allow us to expand our range of solutions and provide new value to our customers.’’

Simon Wright, chief executive officer of Industrial Evolution, said, “Industrial Evolution’s customers will benefit tremendously from Yokogawa, including its global reach and expanded capabilities. We share Yokogawa’s devotion to complete customer satisfaction. By continuing to improve this technology, we seek to become a leading provider of cloud-based advanced solutions.

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa's global network of 88 companies spans 56 countries. Founded in 1915, the US$3.5 billion company conducts cutting-edge research and innovation. Yokogawa is active in the Industrial Automation and Control (IA), Test and Measurement, and other businesses segments. The IA segment plays a vital role in a wide range of industries including Oil & Gas, Chemical, Food & Beverage, Iron & Steel, LNG Supply Chain, Petrochemical, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Power, Pulp & Paper, Refining, Renewable Energy and Water & Wastewater.

Yokogawa South Africa (Pty) Limited is an empowered South African company jointly owned by Identity Capital Partners (Pty) Ltd, a local black women-owned organisation, and Yokogawa Africa Holding BV, incorporated in the Netherlands. Yokogawa Africa Holding BV is ultimately owned by Yokogawa Electric Corporation, a Japanese company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Yokogawa South Africa (Pty) Limited’s comprehensive solutions range from sensors (such as Pressure transmitters, Temperature, Flow meters, Level and Liquid & Gas Analysers) and network solution products, to control and safety systems. This includes the software for advanced control that optimises productivity; and services that minimise plant lifecycle costs. Yokogawa South Africa’s Service Training Department is accredited and proficient in theoretical and practical training for Instrumentation and Control systems from first principles. Our Internship Programme contributes to the continued technical skills improvement in South Africa.

For more information about Yokogawa, please visit the company’s website www.yokogawa.com or contact Christie Cronje in Corporate Communications.

christie.cronje@za.yokogawa.com
Tel: +27 11 831 6300
Fax: +27 11 831 6370
Email: info@za.yokogawa.com
www.yokogawa.com