n NEWS July/August 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com 6 THE ENGINEERING SERVICES provider, March (formerly the Edwin James Group) has acquired Northumberland-based Quantum Controls (QC) and Q Electrical Industrial Services (QE), together known as Quantum. The move strengthens March’s ability to deliver critical asset care and maintenance services with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Quantum, established in 1989, is said to be the UK’s largest independent provider of turnkey projects in the design, installation and maintenance of VSDs (variable-speed drives), panels and motors. It has customers in sectors including water, manufacturing and infrastructure. Quantum currently employs around 100 people. Its existing management team, led by managing director Dan Fitzsimons and supported by founder Kevin Brown, will stay, helping to ensure continuity for customers and employees. March says that Quantum’s expertise is highly complementary to its own offerings, particularly in asset care, energy management and decarbonisation. It supports all major VSD brands. The acquisition also strengthens March’s position in the water utility sector, supporting its ability to deliver engineering services under AMP 8 frameworks. “Integrating Quantum into March expands our capabilities in servicing critical assets,” says March CEO, Christopher Kehoe. “Quantum’s broad capabilities and support for all major equipment brands align with March’s focus on energyefficient, sustainable solutions, enhancing our asset care services, especially in sectors where downtime is costly.” “This deal provides an opportunity for Quantum to accelerate growth and broaden our service offerings,” adds Quantum MD, Dan Fitzsimons. “As part of March, we can access additional resources and expand our reach while continuing to deliver the service our customers rely on.” March now has team of more than 1,300 people, and operates a network of 24 offices and service centres across the UK. It focuses on regulated, asset-rich industries, offering them a single point of contact for managing assets in managing complex, environments, across their entire lifecycle. In early 2024, the then Edwin James Group bought Burton-on-Trent-based Automated Control Solutions Holdings and its subsidiaries Automated Control Solutions and ACS Electrical Engineering (together trading as ACS), for an undisclosed sum. Last September, Edwin James rebranded itself as March in a move aimed at supporting its growth ambitions, simplifying its market presence, and enhancing its ability to deliver complete engineering packages to customers. March buys Quantum to boost engineering services p India’s Amber Group is taking a controlling stake in Unitronics, the Israeli manufacturer of industrial controls including PLCs, HMIs, PLCs/HMIs, motion controls and drives. Amber plans to use its IL JIN Electronics India division to accelerate innovation in Unitronics and to strengthen its position in India, as well as exploiting synergies. p IntelliAM, a UK technology company specialising in AI and machine learning technologies for manufacturing, has formed a partnership with the US sensormaker, Connection Technology Center (CTC), to co-develop smart sensing systems. The collaboration brings together IntelliAM’s AI platform with CTC’s sensing devices to create dual-branded hardware. p The Swedish industrial group Dacke Industri has acquired 80% of UK-based BTL-UK, which manufactures and distributes ball and roller bearings, power transmission components, and motion transfer linkages. BTL’s management will keep the remaining 20%. BTL-UK will join Dacke’s Fluid Power Technology Division. BTL-UK is based in Ashford Kent. It has around 64 employees and an annual turnover of £11m. p Smart Manufacturing Week 2025, the UK’s largest event for advanced manufacturing and engineering, attracted 13,319 visitors to the NEC across two days in early June – similar to the 2024 figure of 13,428. There were 456 exhibitors (down slightly from 470 in 2024). In 2026, Smart Manufacturing Week will take place on 3 and 4 June. p Siemens has completed its acquisition of ebm-papst's Industrial Drive Technology (IDT) division, announced in March 2024. Siemens says the acquisition complements its Xcelerator portfolio, strengthening its position as a supplier of flexible manufacturing automation systems. IDT has around 650 employees at sites in Germany and Romania. Its portfolio includes intelligent mechatronic systems, as well as driving systems. ebm-papst will now focus on fans and blowers. p B&R, ABB’s machine automation division, has entered into a strategic agreement with RS to distribute B&R’s products via its online and offline channels. B&R says the deal marks a significant milestone in expanding access to its technologies, initially in Europe, with later expansion to other regions. The collaboration also expands RS Group’s footprint in the industrial automation sector. NEWS BRIEFS THE JAPANESE motors and drives manufacturer Nidec has opened a huge plant in China capable of producing 18 million motors and more than 20 million inverters every year. The Nidec Qingdao Industrial Park, located in Jiaozhou, covers an area of 108,000m² – equivalent to 15 football fields – and contains 75 production lines. The project was completed in just 18 months. The site integrates two long-standing Nidec facilities. It will be operated by Nidec’s Appliance, Commercial and Industrial Motors (ACIM) business. The campus incorporates real-time digital monitoring and an automated warehouse. There is also a 8,500m² R&D centre which includes eight laboratories. By integrating the production of motors and electronics under one roof, the site has been designed to create strong synergies across processes, enabling faster execution and stronger support for customers. Appliance, Commercial and Industrial Motors is one of Nidec’s largest businesses, with around 18,000 employees and more than 30 manufacturing sites in 25 countries. Its portfolio includes motors for commercial and domestic applications, as well as drives for industrial, commercial, residential and utility applications. Nidec’s Chinese super-plant will make 18 million motors a year March CEO, Christopher Kehoe: acquisition enhances asset care services
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