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Bosch to sell off security products business and focus on systems integration

Bosch announced this week it is realigning its Building Technologies division, with plans to sell off the majority of its security products business and focus on systems integration.

The sale will include its video, access and intrusion, and communications business units, affecting about 4,300 staff and more than 90 locations globally. Bosch is currently looking for a buyer to take on all three units. Bosch’s fire alarm business will remain with the company and merged into its systems business.

“We want to become one of the global leaders for systems integration in building technology and to seize the favourable opportunities for growth in this market,” said Christian Fischer, deputy chairman of the Bosch board of management, responsible for the energy, building technology and consumer goods business sectors, in a statement. “To achieve this, we need to consolidate. This is why we will in the future be focusing on systems integration as our core business. We are confident we will be able to find a buyer who will take over all three business units, and who will further strengthen the business and give it a secure future.”

Thomas Quante, president of Bosch Building Technologies, added, “The product business is excellently positioned for a promising future under a new owner: innovative products, highly skilled associates, and a market environment with attractive opportunities for growth.”

Bosch made a significant investment in systems integration earlier this year with the acquisition of Vancouver-based Paladin Technologies, which employs more than 1,500 associates across 34 offices in North America.

That acquisition effectively doubled the size Bosch’s integration business in North America. Prior to the acquisition, Bosch’s integration business here consisted of Climatec, with a staff of more than 1,000, and offices in Arizona, Texas, Nevada, California, New York, and New Jersey. Climatec was acquired by Bosch in 2015.

Following the realignment, Bosch’s Building Technologies division will employ about 7,600 associates, and operate at 40 locations in eight countries. The division “intends to benefit in the future from digitalization and a growing customer demand for integrated, intelligent, and cross-domain solutions in the areas of building security, energy efficiency, and building automation,” according to Bosch.