CimWorks GageTalker Acquired by GE Fanuc

CimWorks, a GE Fanuc Company, the Kirkland, WA-based supplier of hardware, software, and service products that help manufacturers monitor and control equipment during the manufacturing process, has been acquired by GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. (Charlottesville, VA).

The acquisition was made in an asset purchase agreement with GageTalker Corp. of Washington. The company will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Fanuc; Eric Berg, president of GageTalker Corp., will continue to lead the organization.

CimWorks GageTalker manufacturing software and hardware product lines complement GE Fanuc's OpenFactory CNC, Cimplicity, and general automation products. The acquisition will allow GE Fanuc to provide additional solutions to its customers through its current market channels as well as through the existing CimWorks GageTalker channels.

"Integrating CimWorks GageTalker's hardware and software with GE Fanuc's OpenFactory CNCs and Cimplicity software allows customers to better share quality and productivity data, ranging from individual machines to enterprise-wide information systems," said Jeffrey Kao, manager of GE Fanuc's CNC Business. "The strong reputation of the CimWorks GageTalker products makes them a powerful addition to our family and will provide our combined customer base with new levels of quality and functionality."

"The integration of CimWorks GageTalker into the GE Fanuc organization is a perfect partnership," added Berg. "Both organizations share a similar commitment to helping manufacturers improve productivity and reduce costs. CimWorks GageTalker contributes to GE Fanuc's ability to provide complete manufacturing solutions with our innovative computer integrated manufacturing software and hardware products. For us, being part of an outstanding global organization and world-class supplier of industrial automation products will bring significant benefits to our customers — a broader range of product offerings, complete system solutions, and worldwide customer support."

Founded in 1978, CimWorks GageTalker provides flexible hardware, software and service products that allow manufacturers to monitor and control the performance of production equipment and products during the manufacturing process. Products include flexible solutions for the "paperless factory," with systems for Machine Event Monitoring (MEM), Distributed Numerical Control (DNC), Statistical Process Control (SPC), gage interface, document management and control, shopfloor data collection, and industrial PCs.

GE Fanuc, a joint venture between GE and FANUC, Ltd. of Japan, is a global supplier of industrial control systems. It is part of GE Fanuc Industrial Systems. In addition to the Cimplicity monitoring and control software, products include micro to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control systems, CO2 and YAG lasers, and integration and customer support services.