HIMA Group Acquires Sella Controls
- February 02, 2023
- HIMA Americas Inc
- news
summary
The HIMA Group, which specializes in safety-related automation solutions and has its headquarters in Brühl, Germany, has taken over the British system integrator Sella Controls with effect from February 1, 2023.
February 2nd, 2023 – Brühl/Stockpost – The HIMA Group, which specializes in safety-related automation solutions and has its headquarters in Brühl, Germany, has taken over the British system integrator Sella Controls with effect from
February 1, 2023. Representatives of both companies signed an agreement to this effect on January 31 in Manchester, UK.
With this transaction, both companies intend to continue their growth strategies and expand their range of solutions for rail technology and the process industry.
“HIMA has a long-standing and close relationship with Sella Controls and shares the same vision and values. With Sella Controls, the HIMA Group will accelerate its international expansion and strengthen its global competitiveness,” said Steffen Philipp, shareholder of the HIMA Group.
HIMA and Sella Controls will maintain their focus on safety-related automation, control solutions and the digitalization of functional safety. “The acquisition of Sella Controls is an important milestone in our HIMA growth strategy. By bundling our strengths, we are further expanding our global position as a leading provider of safety-related automation solutions for the process and railway industries,” said Jörg de la Motte, CEO of the HIMA Group.
Sella Controls has a leading market position in Great Britain and Ireland. In particular, the know-how and solution portfolio of Sella Controls in the railway sector is an excellent supplement for HIMA, which is to be promoted and marketed internationally. Business in the process industry is also to be further expanded in Great Britain and Ireland. One focus is the digitization of functional safety, which HIMA is driving forward under the motto “Safety goes digital”.
Existing HIMA customers will benefit from even more intensive support as a result of the takeover, and Sella Controls customers will benefit from a larger service portfolio.
HIMA ensures management continuity: John Blackwell (CFO) and Eddy Turnock (CSO), both previous owners, will continue to lead Sella Controls. In addition, Chris Parr, who previously led the Process Division at Sella Controls, will join the board as CTO.
The 118 employees of Sella Controls will be taken over, further appointments are planned. The three locations will also be retained. Sella Controls has two divisions: the Center of Excellence Rail Solutions with locations in Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Coalville near Leicester and the Process Solutions division based in Stockport near Manchester. The company will continue to operate under the name “Sella Controls” with the addition “A HIMA Company”.
“It’s a win-win situation for HIMA and Sella Controls, with numerous synergies: HIMA will benefit from Sella Controls’ many years of experience in developing solutions for the railway industry and we at Sella Controls can use HIMA’s global sales and distribution network service to boost our international business,” said Eddy Turnock, CSO Sella Controls.
“As a family company, the HIMA Group has a long-term focus and stands for customers
Orientation, sustainable growth and people orientation. Therefore, HIMA offers great opportunities for further development of the Sella Controls team”, added John Blackwell, CFO of Sella Controls.
“The investment in Sella Controls is a clear signal that growth through acquisitions is an important part of HIMA’s growth strategy,” said Dr. Michael Löbig, CFO of the HIMA Group.
The following people can be seen in the photo above: Jörg de la Motte, Eddy Turnock, Ian Wright, Steffen Philipp, Chris Parr, Dr. Michael Loebig and John Blackwell.
About HIMA
The HIMA Group is the world’s leading independent provider of safety-related automation solutions for the process and railway industries to protect people, the environment and property. The family company, founded in 1908 and headquartered in Germany, employs around 800 people and operates at over 50 locations worldwide.
About Sella controls
Founded in 1974 as Sella Controls, was appointed HIMA Paul Hildebrandt representative for safety system products in 1983; and became Hima-Sella Ltd. in 1994. In 2001 Hima-Sella Ltd received the first ever CASS certificate – awarded for Functional Safety Management according to IEC 61508. In June 2017 the company changed its name back to Sella Controls. The name change reflects the company’s successful and continued development in a growing number of industry sectors, while maintaining the longstanding relationship with HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH in Brühl, Germany.
Today, Sella Controls is recognized as a leader in providing “engineered solutions” for safety, control, automation and telecommunications applications in the oil & gas, petrochemical, rail, steel and energy industries. Current services include fully integrated systems, panel build, sub-assemblies, product development and on-site support.
The company is an active member of RISQS – the standard database from which companies in the rail industry select their contractors and suppliers; First Point Assessment Limited (FPAL, the industry database from which companies active in the oil and gas industry select their contractors and suppliers); and the Joint Qualification Scheme (JQS, the requirement for suppliers to the oil industry in Norway and Denmark, as used by the 20 largest oil companies in those countries). Sella Controls is also a member of several associations and industry-based bodies including the Railway Industries Association, the Rail Alliance, the Energy Industries Council, the Institute of Measurement & Control and the Nuclear Industry Association, which keeps the company abreast of the changes in laws and standards.
Recent multi-million pound contracts won by Sella Controls in the rail sector include the supply of a new Traction Power SCADA system for Dockland’s Light Rail, Safety PLC depot control solutions, PPOS solutions and extensive work for Network Rail as part of the Safer Isolation Program. Sella Controls is an integrator of Mitsubishi, Panorama, Honeywell and ICONICS products and a supplier of HIMA security systems.
The company is headquartered in Ashby de la Zouch with regional offices in Cheshire, Leicestershire and Aberdeenshire. In total, Sella Controls employs more than 100 full-time employees.
Did you like this great article?
Check out our free e-newsletters for more great articles.
Subscribe to
