Automation company ABB has announced its intention to buy Dynamotive Ltd. The purchase will expand ABB’s service offering in low and medium voltage drives and motors.

Based in Coalville, United Kingdom, Dynamotive designs, commissions, and upgrades systems of drives, controls, and motors for industrial and marine applications, and automotive test rigs. Dynamotive has approximately 40 employees and is privately owned. The owners will continue to work for ABB.

“The acquisition of Dynamotive will enable ABB to expand its service operations including upgrade and retrofit capabilities in low and medium voltage drives. Furthermore, it will help ABB to increase its sales of complete industrial motion packages, which include drives, motors, controls, and related services,” said Pekka Tiitinen, head of ABB’s drives and controls business unit. “By combining Dynamotive’s service and engineering capabilities with ABB’s manufacturing capabilities and product know-how we will better serve our customers.”

Dynamotive will be integrated into ABB’s drives and controls business unit, and will be led in the UK by Neil Ritchie.

“We are excited about the opportunity to join forces with ABB. We are confident that our customers and employees will benefit from the increased level and quality of services that we can offer them,’’ said David Perkins, Dynamotive’s managing director, who will continue to lead Dynamotive’s operations under the ownership of ABB. “Through this deal we will get better access to ABB’s drive, motor, and control technology, as well as access to ABB’s global sales and service network.”