In this article for Control Engineering Magazine, mergers and acquisitions in the automation industry show no signs of slowing down as Bundy Group analyzes 17 reported transactions for the month of September.
While numerous industries are witnessing a lower volume of closed mergers and acquisitions transactions due to higher interest rates and other macroeconomic challenges, the automation M&A market shows no loss in momentum. From a recently closed transaction (Bundy Group represented Ultimation in a sale to MCE), our team continues to see strong interest from a range of strategic buyers and financial sponsors in the automation segment. Further evidence of the strong M&A activity in automation is provided by the below list of transactions.
Business sales to note include Valstone’s acquisition of Matrix Industrial Control System, Graham Partners’ acquisition of Barcoding, and AMETEK’s acquisition of United Electronic Industries. Bundy Group anticipates several other automation transactions to be completed before the end of the year, and we will keep Control Engineering readers posted.
Bundy Group’s current engagements and owner relationships include control system integration, robotics, automated material handling, automation distribution, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This serves as a leading indicator for submarkets our team anticipates closed transactions in over the coming months. We look forward to providing these relevant updates and transaction announcements to Control Engineering readers.
9/22/23
ATS Corporation a leading automation solutions provider, has acquired Avidity Science, LLC, a designer and manufacturer of automated water purification solutions for biomedical and life science applications. The acquisition is expected to bring significant synergies by year 3 and year 5, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. Learn more.
9/21/23
Valstone Corporation Inc. an international software and technology solutions provider for the industrial vertical, acquired Matrix Industrial Control System, a pioneer in the food industry, based in Brampton, Ontario, Canada since 1977. This acquisition fortifies Valstone’s strategic entry into the Food & Beverage industry. Learn more.
9/20/23
Machinery Services Co. and Rapid Pump & Meter Service Co. a Hidden Harbor Capital Partners portfolio company and leading provider of maintenance, repair, and installation services to water facilities and critical infrastructure, acquired Delta-Electro Power, Inc. The acquisition expands Rapid Pump’s geographic footprint into Rhode Island and Massachusetts and further expands its service capabilities. Learn more.
9/13/23
Robinson Engineering, Inc. has merged with Jewett Automation of Richmond, further enhancing our ability to provide comprehensive automation solutions. This strategic partnership strengthens our position in delivering turn-key automation solutions, with a focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness in your assembly and packaging operations. Learn more.
9/12/23
CenterOak Partners LLC, a Dallas-based private equity firm, has completed a majority recapitalization of Guardian Access Solutions. Guardian provides maintenance, repair, and installation of exterior access control equipment in the Southeast U.S. The current management team will continue to lead Guardian following CenterOak’s investment. Learn more.
9/12/23
Ascento Robotics, a Zurich, Switzerland-based company building autonomous security robots, raised $4.3 million in pre-seed funding. Wingman Venture and Playfair led the round and were joined by Tim Kentley-Klay, Ryan Gariepy, Daniel Kottlarz, Tobias Redlin, and others. Learn more.
9/11/23
DRT Holdings, LLC, which provides specialized manufacturing solutions to the metal packaging, aerospace, and precision industrial segments, has acquired Custom Machining Corporation. CMC is a leading provider of high-speed, high-precision liner systems and parts for metal packaging applications serving the end markets for food, beverage and household products. Learn more.
9/7/23
Barcoding, Inc., the leader in efficiency, accuracy, and connectivity, has joined Graham Partners, a private investment firm investing in technology-driven companies that are spurring innovation in advanced manufacturing. Learn more.
9/6/23
BARTEC acquired the British IIoT specialist Extronics. The company is a leading global developer and manufacturer of connectivity and IIoT infrastructure as well as asset and people tracking systems for hazardous areas. Learn more.
9/6/23
SimpleClosure, has raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding. Co-led by Michael Vaughan and Jon Pomeranz of Vera Equity and Rex Salisbury of Cambrian Ventures, with strong participation from a slew of high-profile SMB-focused startup founders and executives, the funding comes amidst an uptick in startup closures as the economy shifts and raising venture capital becomes more challenging. Learn more.
9/6/23
AMETEK, Inc. acquired United Electronic Industries (UEI), a leading provider of data acquisition and control solutions for the aerospace, defense, energy and semiconductor industries. UEI specializes in the design and manufacture of high-performance test, measurement, simulation and control solutions that enable customers to build smart, reliable, flexible and rugged systems. Learn more.
9/5/23
Numeral, the subledger for high-volume businesses, announced the closing of its oversubscribed seed round. The company has raised $3,000,000 in this recent round led by Bienville Capital with participation from AngelList Quant Fund, executives from Kruze Consulting, and accounting leaders at high-volume businesses. Numeral is a San Francisco-based company providing modern accounting automation technology for high-volume businesses. Learn more.
8/31/23
KGM, a prominent distributor specializing in regulators, valves, and measuring equipment for residential and commercial utility companies, has been on a remarkable growth journey since joining forces with Compass Group in 2021. Their recent expansion has led to the acquisition of Bartlett Controls, based in North Carolina, further broadening their presence across the United States. Learn more.
8/31/23
IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, acquired Falkonry, Inc. a California-based Industrial AI software company that provides automated, high-speed data analysis to the manufacturing and defense industries. Learn more.
8/11/23
CKC Automation was acquired by Depatie Fluid Power Co. and subsequently merged with DST Controls Inc., both California-based automation firms. DST Controls, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, has a nearly 50-year history of providing automation and industrial controls services to a wide range of customers, from large manufacturers to startups. Learn more.
6/20/23
One Rock Capital Partners, LLC, a value-oriented, operationally focused private equity firm, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell BRWS Parent LLC and its related subsidiaries “CentroMotion,” a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered systems and solutions for industrial and transportation applications across the globe, to affiliates of Lone Star Funds. Learn more.
3/21/23
Accenture acquired industrial artificial intelligence (AI) company Flutura, headquartered in Bangalore, India. Flutura will strengthen Accenture’s industrial AI services to increase the performance of plants, refineries, and supply chains while also enabling clients to accomplish their net zero goals faster. Learn more.
