Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. has purchased Rimrock Holdings Corporation for an undisclosed price, the latest development in a multi-year pattern of acquisition and expansion strategy for the welding technologies group.
Privately held Rimrock consists of two lines of business, Wolf Robotics LLC and Rimrock Corporation. The first of these integrates robotic welding and cutting systems for heavy-duty fabrications, including construction, mining, and agriculture, and OEMs and suppliers in the transportation sector.
"Our investment in Wolf Robotics extends our leadership position in automated welding and cutting," stated Christopher L. Mapes, chairman, president and CEO of Lincoln Electric.
The other business is Rimrock Corp., which designs and manufactures automated spray systems for forging operations, diecasters, and foundries. It also integrates turnkey ABB Robotics systems for forging, including spray, material handling, and part finishing.
Cleveland-based Lincoln Electric Lincoln Electric designs, develops, and manufactures of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, and plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment. It also supplies brazing and soldering alloys.
Interviewed last year, a Lincoln Electric spokesman explained the company’s continuing strategy is to acquire operations with specialized products or capabilities that allow it to diversify the Lincoln-branded portfolio of technologies and equipment, to provide a greater range of capabilities to its customers.
In the past three years its notable acquisitions have included Easom Automation, a designer and integrator of turntables, weld positioners, conveyers, lifts, transfer systems, tool shuttles, and specialty automation systems; automation systems integrator Tennessee Rand Inc., metal processing machine builder Wayne Trail Inc., CNC cutting tables supplier Applied Robotics Inc.,
It also has added foreign assets, including ownership interests in Burlington Automation Corporation, Hamilton, Ont.; Robolution GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany; and Russian welding consumables supplier/distributor Mezhgosmetiz-Mtsensk OAO.
Speaking of the Rimrock purchase, Mapes added: "We are excited to combine their expertise and capabilities as a leading automation integrator in the North American heavy fabrication sector with our existing portfolio to better serve customers and accelerate growth."
