GE and FANUC to go their separate ways

Under the terms of the agreement, GE will retain the software, services, embedded systems and control systems businesses globally. The company, to be known as GE Intelligent Platforms, will be led by Maryrose Sylvester. FANUC, meanwhile, will retain the global CNC business. Since its establishment, GE Fanuc Automation has become a leading technology company serving industries such as energy, water, consumer packaged goods, government & defence, and telecommunications. Products include hardware and software, services, automation and embedded computing systems and CNC products. FANUC's honorary chairman Dr Seiuemon Inaba said: "Our joint venture has achieved great success toward its original mission, which was to cooperate on the global growth and technical development of the PLC and CNC business. Over this time period, markets and opportunities also have changed dramatically and both companies further expanded into adjacent segments. Today's market conditions are such that it's imperative we pursue these expanded opportunities, and while we have achieved great things together, it's in both our best interests that we focus our efforts on industry opportunities unique to our respective companies and that will deliver greater benefits to both our companies." Sylvester, ceo of GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, added: "GE could not have asked for better partners than Dr Inaba and FANUC. GE is proud of what our companies have achieved together – both the industry expertise and success across our product portfolios. This change will mean a continued, intense focus on serving our customers around the world while continuing to invest in significant growth platforms like process control systems, enterprise and automation software and embedded computing as we continue to build further expertise around the GE vertical infrastructure segments."