Nelson Miller Group, a provider of engineered components and assemblies used in user-interface and product identification applications and a portfolio company of New Water Capital’s second fund, has acquired New England Keyboard.
New England Keyboard (NEK) is a designer and manufacturer of user interface components and electronic assemblies used in high-reliability applications. NEK specializes in ruggedized keyboards, membrane switches, flexible circuits, and fully assembled user interface and control panels that are sold to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers across the defense, medical device, and semiconductor manufacturing sectors.
NEK was founded in 1986 by Dave Myers and Mark Yates and is headquartered 50 miles northwest of Boston in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
“We are proud of what we have built at NEK over nearly four decades,” said Mr. Myers. “Joining forces with Nelson Miller is a natural next step for the business that will provide our customers and employees with new opportunities and access to a broader network of resources and solutions. We are confident that our shared commitment to providing best-in-class quality and customer service in all that we do will drive continued success.”
Nelson Miller Group, headquartered in Los Angeles, is a supplier of membrane switches, silicone rubber keypads, graphic overlays, metal nameplates, light guides, modules, and assemblies used by OEMs in the medical, aerospace & defense, and industrial sectors. Many of Nelson Miller’s products function as human-machine interface (HMI) components that connect a person to a machine, system, or device. The HMI term is commonly used in the context of an industrial process.
“This acquisition represents a significant step in expanding our capabilities and deepening our presence in industries like defense and aerospace. Together, we’ll be able to offer even more value to customers through a broader portfolio of solutions, world-class engineering support, and global manufacturing resources,” said Rich Fitzgerald, the CEO of Nelson Miller. “We are excited to welcome NEK’s talented team to the Nelson Miller family.”
Nelson Miller was formed in April 2011 by Superior Capital Partners and Eagle Private Capital through the acquisition and merger of two Los Angeles-based metal manufacturing companies, Nelson Nameplate and Miller Dial. In 2017, Nelson Miller added on with the acquisition of Wisconsin-based Wilson-Hurd Manufacturing, which added complementary product lines and a Midwest manufacturing base.
New Water acquired Nelson Miller in November 2021, and the buy of NEK is the fourth add-on acquisition for Nelson Miller under its ownership.
The three earlier add-ons were: Chainlogix, a Pittsburgh-based provider of supply chain management services (January 2022); Injection Works, a New Jersey-based provider of thermoplastic injection molded plastic components and assemblies for medical, industrial, and electrical markets (August 2023); and Pannam Imaging, an Ohio-based maker of HMI components (February 2024).
“NEK’s expertise and strong customer relationships in high-reliability sectors are a perfect complement to NMG’s platform,” said Matt Carlos, a principal at New Water. “This transaction underscores our commitment to building a best-in-class HMI solutions provider that is able to address complex challenges in design, engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain management.”
New Water Capital invests in lower middle-market companies with revenues between $30 million and $300 million that are active in the consumer, retail, and industrial manufacturing and services sectors. The firm was founded in September 2014 and is based in Boca Raton, Florida.
© 2025 Private Equity Professional | June 20, 2025
