HMS Networks AB (publ) has signed a blanket agreement with one of Europe's leading manufacturers of industrial automation equipment. The agreement concerns solutions for industrial Ethernet communication. During 2011, the HMS Anybus® technology will be adapted to the customer's needs to use Ethernet POWERLINK communication. The agreement is worth 1 MSEK during 2011 and an additional 2 MSEK per annum during the following three years. "This order confirms our position as a partner to the leading automation companies and our ability to deliver attractive solutions providing flexibility and quick time-to-market for our customers," says Erik Halvordsson, Key Account Manager at HMS. Ethernet POWERLINK - a technology originating from the Austrian company B+R - is now receiving recognition from many large machine manufacturers. The technology provides essentially improved performance compared to the standardized Ethernet technology used in offices and commercial applications. This is necessary in order to meet the demands from advanced machine manufacturers concerning industrial networks. "I am happy to announce that HMS has received this prestigious order. Especially as our customer delivers products to very demanding machine builders who are always looking for the best combination of performance, reliability and innovation. We now see that the market for Industrial Ethernet is picking up speed, but also that this market is getting more fragmented. At present there are five major technology standards with different hardware and software. This is beneficial for the HMS Anybus® concept which supports all essential communication protocols," says Staffan Dahlström, CEO at HMS Networks AB. For more information please contact: CFO HMS Networks AB Gunnar Högberg, telephone: +46-35 17 29 95 CEO HMS Networks AB Staffan Dahlström, telephone: +46-35 17 29 01 HMS Networks AB (publ) is a world-leading supplier of communication technology for industrial automation. Sales amounted to SEK 345 million in 2010. Over 90% of these sales were to customers located outside Sweden. All development and the major portion of manufacturing is carried out at the head office in Halmstad. Sales offices are located in Japan, China, Germany, Denmark, India, UK, USA, Italy and France. HMS has 190 employees and produces network interface cards and products to interconnect different networks under the trademark Anybus®. The network interface cards are embedded in automation equipment such as inverter drives, robots, control systems and sensors. This allows subcomponents in machines to communicate with one another and with different networks in order to build more efficient and flexible automation systems with reduced energy consumption. HMS is listed on NASDAQ-OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm in the category Small Cap, Information Technology. [HUG#1495632]