The European Commission has given Robert Bosch the go-ahead to take over Mannesman Rexroth following Bosch`s sale of its radial piston pumps business to Moog.

The EC had been worried that the radial pistons business would not be able to survive independently and that the merged Bosch-Rexroth operation would continue to dominate the pump market through its remaining axial piston pumps business.

The EC has also approved the merger that gives Siemens sole control of the plastics, machinery, turbines, and process engineering operation Mannesmann Demag Krauss-Maffei. Mannesmann will keep an interest in the operation through Atecs, its joint holding company with Siemens, but will have no say in the running of the business.

Siemens and Bosch are thought to be close to selling Mannesmann Plastic Machinery while Siemens is planning to sell Dematic Postal Automation as demanded by the EC when it gave the go-ahead for the Atecs deal last August.