The acquisition expands AIR’s U.S. presence with the addition of an established developer of custom automation tools for high-technology industries.
LOS ANGELES—Automated Industrial Robotics Inc. (AIR) recently acquired Owens Design, a Fremont, California-based industrial automation company with “deep experience developing custom solutions for customers in high-tech industries,” according to a release from global alternative investment manager Ares Management Corporation.
The transaction is reported to further strengthen AIR’s ability to align engineering capabilities across its United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland footprint and deliver innovative automation solutions for its global customer base. Automated Industrial Robotics funded the transaction through an additional investment from an Ares Management Private Equity fund, as well as an equity investment from the Owens Design leadership team, the release stated.
Owens Design partners with OEMs and manufacturers from startups to scaled public companies on highly complex design-build and manufacturing automation projects. The company is supported by approximately 100 experienced team members, operating from a 60,000-square-foot facility in Silicon Valley. Its team focuses on high-tech industries, offering specialized expertise in semiconductors, medical products, renewable energy, data storage, and other emerging technologies.
“Owens Design has established a track record of engineering excellence and proven development process that has resulted in the creation of over 3,000 bespoke tools to date,” the release stated.
Through its addition of Owens Design, AIR is said to significantly enhance its presence in the high-growth semiconductor industry. The company expects to leverage Owens Design’s established capabilities in the semiconductor manufacturing space—including its “ultra-high-precision” handling expertise, clean room facilities, and quality management systems—and apply these principles to other key end markets, such as medical products and pharmaceuticals.
“We are honored to partner with Bob and the entire Owens Design team on this exciting next chapter, which we believe brings a world-class business with truly differentiated automation capabilities and an impressive breadth of industry experience to the AIR platform,” said AIR Executive Chairman Brian Klos and Chief Executive Officer Darragh de Stonndún, in a joint statement. “Importantly, the addition of Owens Design marks another transformative step as we work to further link the engineering excellence across AIR’s growing footprint and more effectively deliver cutting-edge, scaled manufacturing to our global customer base.”
Owens Design Chief Executive Officer Bob Fung said that he was “proud of what Owens Design has been able to achieve in over 40 years as an independent company.”
“In AIR, we have found a partner who shares our values of serving customers while creating a rewarding environment for our team members to challenge themselves and grow,” Fung said in a statement. “AIR brings scale, geographic diversity, and exceptional automation experience that will enable Owens Design to realize the significant growth opportunity in front of us. I look forward to continuing my leadership of Owens Design as part of AIR.”