HORIBA Europe announces acquisition of BeXema

HORIBA Europe GmbH announced the successful acquisition of BeXema GmbH. Through this acquisition, HORIBA incorporates the technologies of the electric power field into the group’s internal supply chain. Thus HORIBA will be responding to the need for increasingly complex development and test solutions driven by the growing energy industries, providing total solutions to meet the challenges of customers more quickly.

The Barleben-based BeXema is a young, innovative start-up for high-voltage test equipment, high-voltage emulators as well as inverters for batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysers that stands for dynamic power electronics. Prior to the acquisition, HORIBA has been purchasing a variety of power electronics products from BeXema. Following the acquisition of FuelCon AG in October 2018, the purchase of BeXema enables the HORIBA Group to establish the development and supply of evaluation and measurement solutions for fuel cells, batteries and water electrolysis within the Group.

“With the acquisition of BeXema, we are significantly bringing into the group a specialized supplier of power supplies with, wide range and flexibility. This is extremely valuable to our business - now we can directly meet the changing requirements in the energy industries which is expected to grow massively in the future, and also ensure our customers can benefit from our innovative technologies.” says Dr. Robert Plank, President of HORIBA Europe GmbH. “This is an important strategic step for HORIBA and ensures that we are able to respond to the growing demands of the global energy industries whilst remaining competitive and to further accelerate the hydrogen-related business that the HORIBA Group is promoting globally.”

HORIBA FuelCon Managing Director Dr. Ingo Benecke commented, ”The development of the automotive industry towards increased electro mobility and environmental conscious fuels is presenting suppliers with ever greater challenges. By acquiring BeXema, we now have an innovative manufacturer of dynamic power electronics, inverters for high-performance battery storage as well as high-voltage test equipment within the HORIBA organization. This allows us to realize new, high-performance test solutions, responding faster to customer requirements and with greater customization capability.”

HORIBA's Business Strategy in the Energy Field

With the world making a major shift in investment to achieve carbon neutrality and efficient use of energy, areas such as electrification of mobility and the use of alternative energy sources, especially of hydrogen, are receiving a lot of attention.

In order to realize a decarbonized society, it is important to utilize effective and efficient secondary energies such as electricity and hydrogen, according to regional characteristics and applications. HORIBA's advanced and wide-ranging analysis and measurement technologies – that already play various roles in all processes of energy production, storage, and utilization – can contribute.

HORIBA has set a business strategy in the energy field as one of the main pillars of its Mid-Long Term Management Plan with the target year of 2023. HORIBA is currently investing extensively in hydrogen-related business fields such as fuel cells, batteries and water electrolysis.

The expansion of HORIBA FuelCon's facility is just one example. The company is currently constructing a new building, increasing the total floor space by six times and the production capacity by three times. This new building, where BeXema will also be located, is scheduled to start operation in 2022. By strengthening the ability to supply products to the growing market, HORIBA will contribute to the sustainable energy network.

Additionally, in the U.S., the opening ceremony of HIMaC² (HORIBA Institute for Mobility & Connectivity²), a new research institute bearing the HORIBA name, was held at the University of California, Irvine on July 6. HORIBA will support HIMaC² with a wide range of analysis and measurement technologies to further strengthen HORIBA’s technological base.

(Link to HIMaC2 release)

HORIBA will accelerate to provide concrete solutions in the energy industries, while promoting collaboration with academia to make contributions for sustainable energy networks.