The Bosch group has bought the Dutch motion control specialist Nyquist for an undisclosed sum. Nyquist, which focuses on precision integrated drive-and-control systems, particularly for use in the semiconductor and medical equipment industries, will become part of Bosch Rexroth.

Nyquist was formed in 1998 as an spin-off from Philips and employs around 50 people at its headquarters in Eindhoven, and at branches in Germany, Switzerland, France and Singapore. Its sales in 2004 amounted to around €10m.

According to Bosch Rexroth`s chairman, Manfred Grundke, the acquisition is a strategic step that "will allow Bosch Rexroth to further its solution portfolio for the growth sectors of semiconductor and medical equipment manufacturing". The company already supplies linear motion and pneumatic systems to these markets.

Nyquist`s chief executive Eric Hezemans says that the takeover "underlines the success of our focus strategy, with motion control as a core competence.

"Our customers," he adds, "can rest assured that we will continue to strengthen our product lines and further develop our strategy to provide solutions that match precisely their requirements".