Siemens Makes MES Acquisition for Pharma

Siemens is expanding its industrial portfolio by acquiring Elan Software Systems , based in Toulouse, France, an international software supplier for manufacturing execution systems (MES) in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. This step, says Siemens, will enable Industry Automation, a Division of the Siemens Industry Sector, to extend its global lead in the market for industrial software. Agreement was reached not to disclose the purchase price.

With a workforce of 60, Elan Software Systems , a software and solutions supplier specializing in manufacturing execution systems in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, will be assigned to the Industrial Automation Systems Business Unit.

"Particularly for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, the Elan product range ideally supplements our Simatic IT MES portfolio, which is itself already a leader in its field. Elan has excellent manufacturing process know-how in these industries, where it has been a recognized partner and preferred software supplier to many well-known companies for twenty years. On this foundation we intend to build our worldwide MES software business in these industries", said Ralf-Michael Franke, Business Unit CEO.

According to Franke, Elan's business activities ideally complement the Siemens process industry portfolio, such as the Simatic IT MES portfolio, the process control system PCS 7 and the Comos lifecycle management systems added in 2008 by the acquisition of Innotec.

" We will be continuing our successful strategy. Our customers can go on counting on our outstanding range of products and services and also rely on a strong partner under the Siemens roof who can offer them security of investment ", commented Jean-Pierre Amadio, managing director of Elan Software Systems.