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Barnes buys Italian robot tool specialist Gimatic for €370m

21 September, 2018

The US-based Barnes Group is expanding into the automation and robotics sector by buying the Italian automation and robotics supplier Gimatic for €370m ($435m) in cash. Barnes, whose existing activities include aerospace systems and services, moulding systems and gas springs, is buying Gimatic from its founder, Giuseppe Bellandi, and the European-Asian private equity firm Agic Capital and Xenon Capital Partners, who paid around €100m for the business in 2016.

Gimatic, founded in 1985, designs and develops robotic grippers, end-of-arm tooling systems, pneumatic automation, mechatronic systems, sensors and other automation components. Headquartered in Brescia, Italy, it employs around 240 people and has 16 subsidiaries around the world. It holds more than 180 patents.

“We are extremely excited to add Gimatic and its founder, Giuseppe Bellandi, to Barnes Group, as this acquisition will provide us a gateway into the industrial automation market – a highly attractive market that is well-aligned with our strategic growth plans,” says Barnes’ CEO and president, Patrick Dempsey. “With accelerating adoption of automation and robotic technologies in the global industrial sector, market demand for Gimatic’s advanced solutions is anticipated to increase significantly in the future.”

One of Gimatic's specialities is end-of-arm tooling for robots

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018. Gimatic will operate as a new strategic business within Barnes Group’s industrial segment.




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