industrial automation

Ironbridge Adds to A V Gauge

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A V Gauge & Fixture, a portfolio company of Ironbridge Equity Partners, has acquired Absolute Industrial Automation.

Absolute Industrial designs, builds and integrates automated assembly, welding, and processing equipment. The company was founded in 2009 and specializes in press and riveting applications, interconnecting automation, robotic and custom work cells.

Absolute Industrial, led by its president Mark Rossi, has 26 employees and is headquartered in Windsor, ON (www.absoluteind.com).

A V Gauge & Fixture, acquired by Ironbridge Equity in July 2017,  is a manufacturer of specialized gauging and check fixture equipment (inspection tooling) for the automotive industry. Customers of the company include OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. A V Gauge, led by CEO Denis Levasseur, operates eight facilities across Canada, the United States and Mexico and is headquartered near Windsor in Oldcastle, ON (www.avgauge.com).

“Our industry is continuously evolving and is being shaped by technology, consolidation and globalization,” said Mr. Levasseur. “We are leaders in our fields of expertise and by joining forces we are better able to serve our customers’ needs.”

Ironbridge Equity makes control investments of $15 million to $40 million in lower middle-market businesses that are valued from $25 million to $100 million and have EBITDA of $5 million to $15 million. Sectors of interest include manufacturing, distribution, consumer products and services, and business products and services. The firm is headquartered in Toronto (www.ironbridgeequity.com).

© 2018 Private Equity Professional | August 6, 2018

Crestview Acquires JR Automation

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Crestview Partners has acquired JR Automation Technologies and Dane Systems (together “JR Automation”) from the Huizenga Automation Group which acquired the companies in 1995.

JR Automation is a designer and manufacturer of automated or operated assembly line equipment such as sonic welders, riveters, adhesive dispensers, vision inspectors and verifiers, leak testers, robotic palletizers, and other equipment. The company’s products are used in the aerospace, automotive, construction, consumer products, food processing, furniture, medical, and pharmaceutical industries.  JR Automation was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Holland, MI (www.jrauto.com).

Crestview Partners was interested in this acquisition due to industry trends that support JR Automation’s long-term growth prospects.  Specifically, Crestview expects to see growth in process manufacturing automation and robotics as adoption beyond the automotive industry accelerates and nascent re-shoring of US manufacturing.

“We have been very impressed with the technical capabilities, broad team and the significant potential of JR Automation.  Bryan Jones and Scot Lindemann will continue in their leadership roles, now filling the Co-CEO positions, with support from Mike DuBose as Chairman,” said Tom Murphy, Co-Founder of Crestview Partners.  “We are excited to invest in a fast growing factory automation solutions leader with such a strong culture and reputation.  We look forward to partnering with management in executing their global growth plans.”

Crestview Partners invests from $100 million to $250 million in companies with enterprise values up to $3 billion. Sectors of specific interest include energy, financial services, healthcare, industrials and media.  The firm will invest in other industries where its relationship network and senior operating capabilities provide an advantage.  Crestview, founded in 2004 and headquartered in New York, manages funds with over $7 billion of aggregate capital commitments (www.crestview.com).

“We owe a great debt of gratitude to JC Huizenga and the team at Huizenga Automation Group.  They provided support over a 20-year partnership enabling us to successfully compete and grow on a global basis,” said Bryan Jones, Co-CEO of JR Automation.

The Huizenga Automation Group is part of The Huizenga Group, a Western Michigan-based privately held company that provides management services to companies involved in custom automation machine building, tool & die, pharmaceutical packaging, machined metal parts, electrical contracting and engineered automotive component manufacturing.  Huizenga Automation Group is based in Grand Rapids, MI (www.huizengagroup.com).

© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 3-18-15