Honeywell to acquire EMS Technologies for $491 million

Honeywell International Inc, the diversified US-based conglomerate yesterday said that it will acquire EMS Technologies Inc for about $491 million in order to expand in rugged mobile computing technologies and satellite communications.

Norcross, Georgia-based EMS, with more than 1,200 employees having engineering and manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Moorestown, New Jersey, and Ottawa, makes rugged handheld and vehicle-mounted computers featuring multiple radio technologies and satellite-based global tracking and monitoring solutions for cargo, fleet assets, and personnel.

Its electronic counter-countermeasures products for communications satellites, and airborne communications, which is on Air Force One, holds a 90 per cent stake in military applications.

Its aviation division designs and manufactures satellite-based broadband communication systems that enable worldwide high-speed internet, voice and video capabilities.

EMS Aviation pioneered the first airborne use of Iridium-based satellite communications, and currently dominates the market for Iridium-based voice and tracking systems for aircraft.

It is also a leading supplier of in-flight communications and entertainment, rugged data storage, airborne connectivity, and data recording and replay hardware and software for the aerospace, defence and transportation industries.