R. STAHL and AGU announce their cooperation in the area of innovative industrial software solutions

- Software solution PEC offers plant operators unique possibilities to comply with the statutory requirements

- The cooperation will combine the software and solution expertise of AGU with the leading market position of R. STAHL in plant safety and explosion protection

- Important strategic step to expand the service business of R. STAHL

Waldenburg/Leverkusen, 06 June 2017 - R. STAHL AG, leading supplier of products and systems for explosion protection, and AGU Planungsgesellschaft fuer Automatisierungs-, Gebaeude- und Umwelttechnik mbH announce their cooperation in the area of innovative industrial software solutions for integrated inspection and maintenance support of explosion-protected facilities and for plant safety.

Plant operators have to face more and more organizational and professional challenges due to functional and legal requirements, cost pressure and the prevention of hazards in explosion-protected facilities ("Ex-facilities"). At the same time, new technological concepts require a quick availability of information about technical devices and facilities at the job site via mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. The software solution PEC, developed by AGU, supports plant operators and the persons responsible for the plant in a unique form: it replaces the heterogeneous data storage and ensures the quality and reliability of the data. All relevant requirements are combined in one system, which offers data and process interfaces to all ERP, document, CAE and engineering systems common in industrial environments. PEC thus builds a bridge between the hitherto isolated and heterogeneous world of plant inspections and the networked company environment and so contributes substantially to meeting the demands on plants in which the compliance with the highest safety standards has top priority.

"We are glad that with AGU, we found a partner that is leading the development of software solutions for the three central inspection areas explosion protection, functional safety and operational safety & quality", says Martin Schomaker, CEO of R. STAHL. The cooperation with AGU includes the sale of software solution PEC via the R. STAHL sales organization to quickly expand market penetration. "With PEC, we will be able to offer a highly innovative product to our customers that will help them manage their safety-relevant facilities. This is an important step towards the strategic expansion of our business in the field "Service and Support for Safety". Furthermore, we will have the chance to even more quickly provide our customers with products relevant for maintenance and thus be able to again decisively improve the safety of their plants", Schomaker continues.
R. STAHL has already started to create the organizational structures that will be required to expand the service business and to market PEC.

"After many years of intense cooperation with leading experts in process safety and plant safety, we were able to develop a software solution that fulfils the demands on an integrated inspection and on compliance verifications in all operational sectors and that is unique in the world", says Harry Voges, Managing Director of AGU. "The excellent market position of R. STAHL now gives us the opportunity to make the advantages of PEC available to an even larger circle of users via an international network of specialists and to use the expertise of R. STAHL to offer customers comprehensive services and support."

With the compatible modules PEC-EX, PEC-FS and PEC-SQ, all relevant inspections, e.g. pursuant to BetrSichV (German Health and Safety at Work Regulations), IEC 60079-17, IEC 61508, IEC 61511 or VDE, are displayed methodically, paperless and resource-friendly. Greatest importance has been attached to a simple, practical and easy-to-learn operating concept right from the beginning of the development of PEC. With this highly innovative software package, plant operators now have a unique possibility for operational status monitoring and for a successful organization of audits.

About R. STAHL - www.stahl.de
R. STAHL is the world's leading supplier of electrical and electronic products and systems for explosion protection. These products and systems prevent explosions in hazardous areas and contribute to the safety of people, machines and the environment. The portfolio ranges from products used in switching/distributing, installing, operating/monitoring, lighting and signalling/alarming up to automation. Typical customers are oil & gas industry, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry and the food industry. In 2016, global sales amounting to EUR 286.6 million were generated with 1,788 employees.

The shares of R. STAHL AG are traded on the Regulated Market/Prime Standard of Deutsche Boerse (ISIN DE000A1PHBB5).

Contact:
R. STAHL AG
Am Bahnhof 30, 74638 Waldenburg (Wuertt.)

Dr. Thomas Kornek
Hear of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
F: +49 7942 943-1395
E: investornews@stahl.de

About AGU - www.agu.de
AGU is a global player in the field of industrial software solutions and engineering. Founded in 1992, the company established the field "Industrial IT" in the company as early as 1995 and now pools it in company sector PLS/MSR/TGA services for the design of process plants and pharmaceutical facilities. AGU puts special focus on the field services for operational safety and plant safety, which may provide valuable assistance for the introduction of PEC.

Contact
AGU Planungsgesellschaft für Automatisierungs-, Gebaeude- und Umwelttechnik mbH
Von-Ketteler-Straße 1, 51371 Leverkusen

Harry Voges
Managing Director
F: +49 214 8686011
E: harry.voges@agu.de