In line with its strategy to digitalize its offering, GF Machining Solutions, a division of GF, has agreed to purchase 100 percent of the shares of Symmedia GmbH, Bielefeld (Germany). The privately owned company has been specializing in software for machine connectivity solutions for the past 20 years.

The secure interconnection of machines is the basis of the future development of industrial processes, commonly described as Industry 4.0. Symmedia has developed and offers these interconnections as a key player in factory digitalization.

symmedia was established in 1997 and employs today 60 people. More than 15’000 machines in various industries worldwide have been equipped with its software. The company will continue to support and develop connectivity solutions for all types and all brands of machines and factory equipment. On top, GF Machining Solutions will use symmedia technology to accelerate its digital transformation by offering complete solutions for factory connectivity in industrial environments.

symmedia will continue to operate under its current management from its Bielefeld base. Both parties have agreed not to disclose any financial details.

“We warmly welcome Symmedia to the GF family and look forward to supporting the further development of its connectivity solutions for a whole range of clients. This new partnership will also allow us to speed up and widen the range of the digital solutions we offer to our customers”, states Yves Serra, CEO of GF.

Peter Barkowsky, Co-founder and Managing Director of Symmedia, says: “Our customers are machine manufacturers who provide services in textiles, pharmaceuticals, food, electronics, plastics, printing, tooling and other industries. As a member of the GF family we will be able to deepen the cooperation with our global customers but also to help GF to accelerate its digital transformation.”

Dr. Albert Christmann, CEO Oetker Group and Chairman of the Board of symmedia, comments: “Leaving shareholders Gundlach Group and Oetker Group are grateful to the management and team of Symmedia for a truly innovative and very successful buildup of a niche market leader. We also thank our customers for outstanding relations, not having lost one single client until today. We wish all stakeholders a prosperous next stage for symmedia!”

GF Machining Solutions provides machine tools, automation solutions and customer services for the production of molds, dies and high value-added metal parts. The division has R&D and manufacturing facilities in Switzerland, Sweden and China, and serves its customers through its own sales companies in more than 50 countries.

symmedia has been developing service solutions for the mechanical engineering sector since 1997. symmedia SP/1 software is used as the “internet of machines” in over 100 countries. Leading machine manufacturers and operators use the software as a convenient service portal with remote service, parts, maintenance and monitoring being proactively offered directly at the machine. The performance figures of the service organization on facility availability, productivity and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) are available to management everywhere, wherever they are. More information see: www.symmedia.de