Rockwell looking at acquisitions in India

Firm hopes to grow at 30% in the next couple of years

The US-based, $4.4 billion, Rockwell Automation is looking at the possibility of acquiring another automation or an IT based company engaged in same line of activities in India.

"Our team of experts are constantly monitoring the possibility of acquiring an automation company in India," explained Scott L Summerville, president of Rockwell Automation.

"The prime consideration for the acquisition would be value generation for us and the company we acquire. This will be a company that will be help us achieve our mission in the future and aid in achieving strategic values that are hoping to achieve," explained Summerville.

"Another consideration will be on companies that are niche players in certain domains that are related to our manufacturing automation process. This company would be having special capability in the domains we want to expand into," he added.

"Out team is constantly on the lookout for opportunities in countries we operate. We have sometimes back acquired the semi conductor division of Samsung in Korea, which was followed by acquiring a end-to-end solution company "" Propac in Germany," he explained.

In India, Rockwell Automation hopes to grow at the rate of 30 per cent in the next couple of years.

At present its order book position stands at Rs 130 crore for the period October to March.

Rockwell follows the October to September calendar for its accounts under the US GAAP rules.

The company hopes to close the year at Rs 275 crore of sales against Rs 190 crore in the previous year.

Ranjan De, managing director of the Indian operations, said as much as 26 per cent was from the metal industry followed by 22 per cent in the food and beverages segment.

The automotive sector accounted for 16 per cent of the company's turnover while textile, oil and gas, infrastructure and power contributed eight per cent each. Rockwell had 25 per cent market share with special focus on automotive, food and beverages segments followed by textile and power.

The company has also made India its repair outsourcing hub. It would be investing in manpower and globalising its business in India.

"We also need, as a strategy, to build up domain expertise on sale, delivery and execution side. In India we are also concentrating on enhancing our engineering capabilities," informed Summerville.