While industry pundits pine for a major acquisition, the majors quietly keep growing and innovating through smaller, targeted acquisitions. Emerson Process Management today announced it has acquired Missouri City, Texas-based EIM Controls Inc., a manufacturer of valve actuators. EIM Controls will join the company’s Valve Automation division. Emerson said in its release that the acquisition expands its electric actuator portfolio, while strengthening its applications for Foundation fieldbus and other major bus protocols.

“This is a strategic acquisition that adds value and strengthens our position in the competitive automation market,” said Dan Button, president of Valve Automation. “EIM Controls brings to Valve Automation a well-known reputation for reliability and extensive product line that perfectly complements our PlantWeb digital plant architecture.”

The addition of EIM Controls brings Multi-turn and Quarter-turn actuators incorporating MCP, M2CP, TEC2000 and the ECP2000 electric and electronic controls into Emerson’s portfolio. It generated approximately $43.3 million in annual sales for the period ending September 30, 2009, and has 168 employees throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.