On July 7, 2025, Siemens announced the formal completion of its acquisition of the Industrial Drive Technology (IDT) division of Germany's ebm-papst Group. This 16-month strategic merger marks another critical step in Siemens'布局 in smart factories and industrial automation, injecting key technological momentum into its Xcelerator open digital business platform.

The transaction traces back to March 2024, when ebm-papst first disclosed plans to sell its IDT unit to Siemens. As a global "hidden champion" in fans and motors, ebm-papst's industrial drive technology holds a leading position in ultra-low-voltage intelligent drives, with products widely deployed in logistics automation, robotic collaboration, and other scenarios. Following multiple rounds of negotiations and regulatory approvals, the parties finalized the deal in July 2025, with approximately 650 former ebm-papst employees joining Siemens' Digital Industries Group Motion Control Division.

Technological Synergy and Product Innovation

Post-acquisition, the IDT business will operate under the "Mechatronic Systems" brand and merge into Siemens' SIMOTICS E low-voltage drive product line. This integration introduces two core product series:

· Simotics E-1EE1 Brushless Inner Rotor Motor: Designed for 24V/48V battery-powered applications, suitable for mobile robots in warehousing and sorting systems.

· Simotics E-1EV1 Brushless Outer Rotor Motor: Compact design optimized for AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) in intralogistics, offering 15% higher efficiency than comparable products.

Notably, Siemens concurrently launched the SIMOTICS E ArgoDrive Steering System, available in light, standard, and heavy-duty models. Through hardware-software collaboration, it enables precise control in heavy-load scenarios. The system, compatible with Siemens' SIMATIC controllers and Safe Velocity safety solutions, reduces system integration costs for customers by 30%.

Building an Industry 4.0 Ecosystem

Achim Peltz, CEO of Siemens' Digital Industries Group Motion Control Division, stated: "This acquisition fills our gap in ultra-low-voltage drive technology, positioning Siemens as a global leader capable of delivering full-stack 'motor-drive-control' solutions." Insiders revealed the integrated product line will prioritize three strategic directions:

1. Smart Battery Drive Technology: Leveraging Siemens' industrial edge computing to optimize dynamic energy consumption for mobile robots.

2. Robotic Collaboration Ecosystem: Enhancing multi-robot collaboration safety through deep integration with Safe Velocity.

3. Global Service Network Expansion: Utilizing Siemens' presence in 190 countries to accelerate ebm-papst's market penetration in Asia-Pacific.

Frank Golüke, Vice President of Motion Control, emphasized: "Drive technology is the nerve center of industrial digitization. Moving forward, we will integrate these hardware solutions with the MindSphere IoT platform to realize a 'machinery-as-a-service' business model."

This merger underscores industrial giants' strategic consensus on vertical integration to address the "flexible manufacturing" trend. Siemens contributes its global reach and digital ecosystem, while ebm-papst brings niche technological expertise, creating a "platform + specialty" synergy. With the global autonomous transport systems market projected to exceed $22 billion by 2030, this alliance may redefine power system standards for smart factories.