Japan`s market leader in industrial PCs (IPCs), Digital Electronics, has bought the American IPC specialist, Xycom, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition, made through Digital`s US subsidiary, Pro-face America, includes Xycom`s European subsidiary, based in Northampton.

Digital, which claims to dominate the Japanese markets for HMIs and panel IPCs, also badges for customers including GE Fanuc. It has European subsidiaries in Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands.

Xycom chairman James McGrath says the deal will help Xycom "to realise its full potential as a leader in the IPC market". The combination "makes a superb business combination," he adds.

Ian Law, Xycom`s European sales director, describes the two companies` product ranges as "complementary". The combination, he says, "creates a company with great strength, both in breadth and depth".