Industry Pulse: Recent Manufacturing Acquisitions From IFS, Spartan Fasteners, Modine, and More
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.
Spartan Fastener Strengthens Specialty Fastener Portfolio With American Jebco Acquisition
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: Spartan Fastener, American Jebco
By combining Spartan's extensive fastening solutions with Jebco's specialized products, the integrated company aims to deliver greater customer value through a broader product portfolio, increased manufacturing flexibility, and improved supply chain efficiency. Key leadership from American Jebco will remain in place to ensure continuity and preserve longstanding customer relationships as the companies align resources to accelerate growth in the fastener industry.
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W.E. Johnson Equipment Company Sold to Burwell Material Handling
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: W.E. Johnson Equipment Company, Burwell Material Handling, Performance Brokerage Services
W.E. Johnson Equipment Company, a trusted name in specialty fasteners and material handling equipment since 1958, has been acquired by Burwell Material Handling. The deal includes W.E. Johnson's two locations in Miami and Fort Myers, Florida, which will be rebranded under the Burwell name. This acquisition strengthens Burwell's footprint in the Southeast, expanding its dealership network to 20 locations and broadening its offerings across equipment sales, rentals, service, and engineered system solutions.
The transaction was advised by Performance Brokerage Services, North America's highest-volume dealership brokerage firm. Owners Gary Work and Robert Morales expressed confidence in Burwell's commitment to maintaining W.E. Johnson’s high standards and ensuring continuity for employees and customers as they look toward retirement.
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HECO Acquires Fife-Pearce Electric Company, Expands Detroit Operations
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: HECO, Inc., Fife-Pearce Electric Company
HECO, Inc., a family-owned provider of industrial electric motor sales, service, and reliability solutions, has acquired Fife-Pearce Electric Company, a Detroit-based AC & DC motor service and repair provider. The acquisition, effective July 2, 2025, adds Fife-Pearce's 30,000-square-foot Detroit facility and its specialized magnetic chuck repair capabilities to HECO's growing network of 10 electric motor sales and service centers across five states.
As part of the deal, HECO will relocate its current Metro Detroit Service Center in Redford to the Fife-Pearce facility on Sherwood Street in Detroit. The combined teams and expanded service footprint will enhance HECO's capacity to serve industrial, automation, and commercial customers throughout Metro Detroit. Fife-Pearce’s employees will join the HECO team, ensuring continuity for customers and preserving the nearly century-long legacy of the family-owned company.
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Modine Expands Commercial IAQ Portfolio With Climate by Design International Acquisition
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: Modine, Climate by Design International (CDI)
Modine, a global leader in thermal management technology, has acquired Climate by Design International (CDI), a Minnesota-based manufacturer known for its desiccant dehumidification systems and critical process air handlers. The acquisition strengthens Modine's specialty commercial indoor air quality (IAQ) capabilities, adding advanced humidity control technologies that serve sectors like pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare, food processing, cold storage, battery production, and ice arenas.
CDI's expertise and manufacturing capacity enhance Modine's existing IAQ product line, following its acquisitions of Napps Technology in 2023 and Scott Springfield in 2024. The addition positions Modine to deliver more integrated, high-performance air handling solutions to customers with demanding humidity and environmental requirements. The company expects CDI to contribute positively to earnings and accelerate growth in key markets.
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IFS Acquires TheLoops to Launch First Industrial AI Agent Workforce
Type: Acquisition
Major Players: IFS, TheLoops
TheLoops' AI agents will be embedded into IFS's industrial suite to create intelligent digital teammates that are contextual, compliant, and customer-centric from day one. This new agentic workforce is designed to actively participate in real workflows, make autonomous decisions, and collaborate securely within regulated, asset-intensive industries. The deal positions IFS at the forefront of Industrial AI by shifting from software that simply tracks work to software that actually does the work—empowering organizations to boost resilience, productivity, and ROI at scale.
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