Tektronix acquires EA Elektro-Automatik to provide "greener" solutions

Earlier this year, Tektronix announced the acquisition of EA Elektro-Automatik, a leading European manufacturer of power supplies and electronic loads , taking a major step in the fast-growing clean energy sector and further strengthening its product portfolio. The merger is expected to bring significant benefits to both companies and their shared customer base, particularly in the areas of automotive powertrain, battery chemistry and design.

Electric vehicles and clean energy markets are target areas

James Hitchcock, Tektronix Vice President and new EA General Manager, elaborated on the motivation behind the acquisition: "Tektronix has a long history of working closely with engineers across the industry, particularly in the areas of automotive powertrain, battery chemistry and design. For years, engineers have been using our isolated probes and mid-range oscilloscopes to design innovative solutions for electric vehicles. However, our customers were challenged to meet the higher power test requirements of power modules or battery packs, and we were previously unable to provide the right solutions. This prompted us to look for opportunities in this area, and we found that EA Elektro-Automatik's products matched our values ​​of pursuing high quality and performance, which was exactly what we wanted."

Hitchcock said the merger of the two testing brands would generate significant synergies and create new market opportunities.

He stressed: "Tektronix will benefit from EA's technology to create comprehensive solutions for customers in the decarbonization and energy sectors. By combining EA's bidirectional sources, loads and sources with Tektronix and Keithley's measurement products, we can address power efficiency and integrity measurements for IoT devices from microvolts to megawatts, a range we could not cover before. This integration allows us to provide deeper value in the clean energy market."

Enhanced Power Portfolio

For EA Elektro-Automatik, the merger also brings significant advantages, as the brand will benefit from Tektronix's advanced measurement technology, allowing it to develop more complete battery testing and simulation solutions. Integrating Tektronix's switching and measurement technology into EA's systems will also enable EA to offer a full range of solutions, enhancing its existing power product portfolio.

When discussing potential issues with product line integration and market overlap, Hitchcock noted, "Right now, our primary focus is supporting our customers. We have not made a decision to integrate our brands. One point that needs to be emphasized is that in fact, there is very little overlap in the product portfolios between EA and Tektronix. EA focuses on the industrial power supply field, while Tektronix and Keithley are committed to meeting the needs of engineering R&D benches that require accurate voltage and current measurement. By understanding the needs of our customers, we can launch the right products at the right time and effectively avoid internal product competition."

The acquisition also has the potential to redefine electronic testing standards, particularly in the battery market.

The Tektronix EA-BT 20000 Series Battery Tester is optimized for battery testing and battery simulation. This bidirectional power supply allows full control of the discharge and charge of cells, battery packs and modules.

Supporting the complete product lifecycle

"One of the challenges our customers face is understanding how battery quality changes over time and validating the battery throughout its lifecycle. The combination of Tektronix and EA means we will be able to provide all the tools needed to fully characterize batteries," explained Hitchcock. "With Tektronix's expertise in measurement standards and reporting and EA's power capabilities, we can support customers in developing and complying with emerging standards, such as Europe's battery passport concept."

With this strategic acquisition, Tektronix and EA Elektro-Automatik will ultimately be at the forefront of innovation in the field of electric vehicles and clean energy, and are committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality solutions to meet the evolving needs of customers.

“Tektronix and EA are committed to providing the full design lifecycle and product realization, from early-stage research and training to understand new features, new chemistries, new topologies and power efficiency techniques, all the way through validation and automated production,” said Hitchcock . “Tektronix’s commitment is to provide application support and collaboration to solve challenging problems and ultimately bring new products to the energy ecosystem. This is the unique value we advocate as a company.”