Increased customer demands brings HMS to the UK

16 March 2011

The world’s largest supplier of industrial connectivity technologies has set up an operating base in Coventry from which it plans to expand into new markets as well as new territories. HMS Industrial Networks is an international manufacturer of network connectivity products, such as embedded network devices and gateway products for automation communications, which it markets under its Anybus brand name.

By providing connectivity to all of the leading automation networks, HMS’s technology has become a simple way for device manufacturers and automation users to have connectivity to multiple networks, and thus has made HMS the de facto standard for network-independent industrial connectivity. Headquartered in Halmstad, Sweden, HMS Industrial Networks will use the new premises to grow its share of the UK and Irish markets from its current £1 million, and to enter new sectors such as process control and building management systems.

Staffan Dahlström (pictured) CEO of HMS comments: “The British and Irish markets are strategically important for us. They form one of the larger business regions in Europe and have outstanding growth potential. On top of this we will be able to bring a lot of added value to the automation marketplace. The markets have many innovative small and medium sized businesses within industrial automation and process control which will give us a springboard for supplying our technology to new applications”.

One of the fastest growing companies on the NASDAQ-OMX Nordic stock Exchange HMS employs over 200 people in nine countries and had a turnover of £33 million in 2010. It has achieved an average annual growth rate of 20% over the last six years, despite the recent economic situation.

As a matter of policy, 10-15% of turnover is spent on R&D, ensuring a constant supply of new products and technologies, including embedded network devices and gateway solutions, wireless and remote asset management, and control products.

Staffan continues: “Under the Anybus brand, our connectivity devices already provide reliable and flexible solutions for connecting products to any industrial network. The new office is a signal to our UK and Eire customers that we are expanding our focus from traditional Factory Automation, to all forms of industrial communications networks.

"Fast-moving technology trends such as the migration from serial to fieldbus, to Ethernet and to wireless means that user companies find it very difficult to keep up and require expert support. Connection to legacy networks and new legislation are also important factors where HMS offers help. Industry trends means that the service we provide at HMS will ensure our customers have a simple, efficient and price effective solution to meeting new and legacy networking connectivity needs”.

The newly established HMS Industrial Networks UK Ltd. will be managed by General Manager Björn Franzen assisted by David Folley as the Sales and Business Development manager, who bring with them more than 45 years experience in the industrial automation business.

Bjorn is already familiar with the region and says: “The British market is to a large extent divided according to PLC vendors. By offering connectivity between vendors, we can expand our customers’ market which makes our offering very attractive. The British are innovators; they are often the first to understand and implement new technologies and to react to new legislation. This coupled with their export activities makes the UK a great platform for multi-facetted expansion activities.”