Industry Pulse: Recent Acquisitions From Comau, ASSA ABLOY, LG Electronics, and More
Key Highlights:
- One Equity Partners acquires a majority stake in Comau to drive growth and innovation in industrial automation.
- TRIGO acquires Controreupe to strengthen its non-destructive testing services in the aerospace and defense sectors.
- Sonic Group acquires its distributor, Sonic Tools USA, expanding its presence in North America.
- Ares Management invests $304 million to acquire a majority stake in Form Technologies, supporting its growth in precision-engineered components.
- ASSA ABLOY acquires Uhlmann & Zacher to enhance its access control offerings with new products and software.
- LG Electronics acquires a 51% stake in Bear Robotics, advancing its robotics capabilities with AI-driven service robots.
Welcome back to our regular look at who's buying who in the manufacturing equipment world. We've rounded up the latest deals that matter to your business—from major industry shakeups to smaller strategic moves.
Keeping tabs on these acquisitions helps you stay ahead of the curve—whether you're wondering about future product lines, service changes, or where prices might be heading. So grab your coffee and let's dive into the latest manufacturing acquisitions and what they mean for your equipment decisions.
One Equity Partners Completes Investment in Comau
Type: Investment
Major Players: Comau, One Equity Partners (OEP)
Also Involved: Stellantis
One Equity Partners (OEP) has completed a majority investment in Comau, a global leader in industrial automation and robotics. This investment will support Comau's next phase of growth, providing capital to expand its competencies across various sectors while maintaining its strong Italian identity. Following the transaction, OEP becomes the majority shareholder, and Stellantis remains an active minority shareholder. Comau's leadership team, including Executive Chairman Alessandro Nasi and CEO Pietro Gorlier, will continue to drive the company's growth, with OEP's expertise helping to fuel innovation and global market expansion.
TRIGO Expands Non-Destructive Testing Capabilities with Controreupe Acquisition
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: TRIGO, Controreupe
TRIGO, a global leader in quality management services, has acquired Controreupe, a France-based specialist in non-destructive testing (NDT). The acquisition strengthens TRIGO's industrial quality control portfolio and expands its presence in the aerospace and defense sectors.
Controreupe, known for its expertise in penetrant testing and 3D measurement, generates €3 million annually and brings 30 years of experience to TRIGO's growing Aerospace, Defense, and Rail (ADR) division. TRIGO plans to triple Controreupe's revenue by 2030 and create more than 30 new technical positions. The move will grow TRIGO's 3D measurement and NDT services, targeting €100 million in related business by 2030.
Sonic Group Expands North American Reach With Sonic Tools USA Acquisition
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: Sonic Group, Sonic Tools USA
Sonic Group, a Netherlands-based global tool and storage solutions provider, has acquired Sonic Tools USA, its exclusive North American distribution partner. The move turns the Auburn, Alabama-based distributor into a fully owned entity just as the two mark a decade of partnership. Sonic Tools USA has experienced 4,000% revenue growth since launching in 2015, offering organized, complete toolsets across automotive, aviation, and manufacturing sectors.
The acquisition enables Sonic Tools USA to expand its distributor network and resources in North America. Co-founder Colby McConnell will remain as CEO of the North American office, which continues to operate from its current facilities.
Ares Management Acquires Majority Stake in Form Technologies
Type: Investment
Major Players: Form Technologies, Ares Management
Also Involved: D. E. Shaw group, Onex Credit, Ripple Industries
Ares Management has acquired a majority equity stake in Form Technologies, a global leader in precision-engineered components. The transaction includes a total equity injection of $304 million—$154 million in common equity from Ares, D. E. Shaw, and Onex Credit, and $150 million in preferred equity from D. E. Shaw and Ripple Industries. As part of the deal, Form Technologies has significantly reduced its debt, positioning itself for accelerated growth.
With 32 facilities in 22 countries, Form Technologies plans to leverage the new capital to strengthen its die casting, investment casting, and metal injection molding capabilities. The investment supports a broader commercial strategy aimed at growing its nearly 2,000-customer base across key sectors like automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and enterprise technology.
ASSA ABLOY Acquires Uhlmann & Zacher GmbH
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: ASSA ABLOY, Uhlmann & Zacher
ASSA ABLOY has acquired Uhlmann & Zacher GmbH, a German supplier of access control handles, knobs, and software. This acquisition supports ASSA ABLOY's strategy to enhance its core business by adding complementary products and solutions. Uhlmann & Zacher, established in 1990, brings 30 years of expertise in electronic locking systems and operates with approximately 110 employees in Waldbüttelbrunn, Germany. The acquisition, valued at €21 million in 2024 sales, is expected to contribute positively to ASSA ABLOY's earnings from the outset.
LG Electronics Acquires Majority Stake in Bear Robotics
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: LG Electronics, Bear Robotics
LG Electronics has acquired a controlling 51% stake in Bear Robotics, a Silicon Valley startup specializing in AI-driven autonomous service robots. This follows an initial investment of USD 60 million in March 2024. Bear Robotics, known for its indoor delivery robots, will now be integrated with LG's commercial robot business, which includes "LG CLOi Robots." This strategic move strengthens LG's presence in the robotics market, supporting its ambitions to expand in the commercial, home, and industrial robot sectors. LG also plans to leverage its AI expertise to create an integrated robotics software platform.