Emerson (emerson.com) has agreed to acquire Intelligent Platforms, a division of General Electric (ge.com). Intelligent Platforms’ programmable logic controller (PLC) technologies will enable Emerson to provide its customers broader control and management of their operations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition expands opportunities for Emerson in machine control and discrete applications across process industries and target hybrid markets, such as metals & mining, life sciences, food & beverage and packaging. By interfacing Intelligent Platforms’ PLC technology with Emerson’s distributed control systems, customers will be able to connect “islands of automation” within the plant to further enhance operational performance, safety and reliability.

Both Emerson and Intelligent Platforms are focused on leveraging automation technologies to drive digital transformation in their end markets. Intelligent Platforms recently developed a new family of cloud-connected controllers and devices to enable smarter plants, a strong complement to Emerson’s focus on digital transformation and the Industrial Internet of Things through its PlantwebTM digital ecosystem.

Intelligent Platforms is based in Charlottesville, Va.The business has a 25-year track record as an industrial automation innovator for machine control, industrial computing, input/output (I/O) and networking devices, project and integration services and other hardware/software solutions.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of fiscal 2019.