♦  The Taiwanese industrial computing specialist Advantech has bought Munich-based DLoG for €12.85m from Augusta Technologie. DLoG is said to be Europe’s third-largest supplier of rugged industrial computers, with a 19.3% market share. It employs 75 people and had sales worth €13m in 2009 (down from €18.5m in 2008). It will be rebranded Advantech-DLoG.

♦  A survey of Chinese automation users by IMS Research has revealed that 75% are using Siemens products in their PLC-based control systems. IMS has also found that Siemens has more than half of the Chinese PLC market. Most Chinese PLC users favour foreign brands, with domestic brands accounting for less than 5% of the market, although this share is growing.

♦  The US-based electrical components giant Thomas & Betts is buying PMA, the Zurich-based manufacturer of cable protection systems, for €85m. Last year, PMA had sales worth €33m. Its flexible conduit and fittings are used to protect power and data cables.

♦  Global machine vision sales in 2009 were more than 25% down on their 2008 figure of $2.5bn, says IMS Research. But it reports that sales are starting to pick up, with 2008 sales levels expected to be reached again between 2011 and 2013, depending on the user industry and location.