General Electric to acquire flowmeter maker Rheonik

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Rheonik, a leading manufacturer of high accuracy coriolis mass flowmeters used in the oil & gas, process and power industries. The transaction, terms of which are not being disclosed, will be completed upon receipt of regulatory approvals.

The acquisition will broaden GE's current flowmeter technology offerings for sensing customers. Additionally, Rheonik’s customers will benefit from GE's global presence, technology depth and broad range of sensing products and services.

"Rheonik has a strong reputation in the mass flowmeter world and is a highly complementary addition to GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies’ flow sensing product line," said Caroline Reda, president & CEO of GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies. “This expansion of our product line is consistent with our goal to provide customers with high accuracy sensors for harsh environments."

“Both Rheonik and GE customers will benefit from the synergies created by the transaction,” said Günter Küppers and Michael Küppers, managing directors of Rheonik. "Rheonik will bring a new range of versatile flow measurement products into GE’s growing sensing business."

In 2007, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies released four products designed to ensure pipeline integrity in harsh environments. The PanaFlow ISX, an intrinsically safe wetted ultrasonic flowmeter; the DPI 104 IS, an intrinsically safe digital pressure gauge; Rightrax, an ultrasonic, non-intrusive, on-line solution to corrosion/erosion monitoring for remote, difficult access or dangerous plant locations; and Weldstar, a complete, automated ultrasonic girth weld inspection system for transmission pipelines.

Rheonik, headquartered in Munich, Germany, is a manufacturer of coriolis flowmeters. The meters measure flow from 0.5 grams per minute to 1,500 tons per hour. Rheonik’s Omega tube design includes a torsion rod/cross bar design that offers versatility and a competitive advantage for the customer by providing temperature stability and increased safety in corrosive environments. Rheonik’s products serve high-pressure applications and can operate with relatively large amplitudes, which is important for highly viscous liquids or very low flow. For more information, visit www.rheonik.com.

About GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is part of GE Enterprise Solutions, a $5 billion business helping customers compete and win in a changing global environment by combining the power of GE’s unique expertise and intelligent technology to drive customers’ productivity and profitability. GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced measurement, sensor-based and inspection solutions that deliver accuracy, productivity and safety to its customers. The company designs and manufactures sensing instruments that measure temperature, pressure, moisture, gas and flow rate for demanding customer applications. It also designs, manufactures and services inspection equipment, including radiographic, ultrasonic, remote visual and eddy current, that monitors and tests materials without disassembly, deforming or damaging them. GE Sensing & Inspection’s products are used in a wide range of industries, including oil & gas, power generation, aerospace, transportation and healthcare. The company has 4,700 employees at more than 40 facilities in 25 countries worldwide.