KUKA, one of the world’s leading suppliers of robotics as well as plant and systems engineering, has acquired the plant engineering business of privately owned Utica Companies, a welding equipment specialist and supplier to the automotive industry located in Shelby Township, Michigan. With this transaction KUKA becomes the Number 1 systems supplier to the North American automotive sector. The acquisition price is in the low double digit million Euro range.
“This acquisition follows our strategy being Number 1 or 2 in our respective markets. The acquisition does not only add new customers, but will enable us to continue our profitable growth in North America and in Asia”, says Dr. Till Reuter, CEO of KUKA AG.
Utica’s core market is automotive assembly. The company is active in body structure business that builds car body assembly lines and subsystems – as well as products like laser welding heads, net form and pierce systems for high accuracy in joining body sections, standard press room automation for metal stamping and hang-on technologies for installing doors, hoods and other parts on assembly lines.
“With this acquisition KUKA Systems will leverage its technologies,” says Lawrence A. Drake, President and CEO of KUKA Systems Group. “Moreover, our customers will benefit from an expanded manufacturing footprint, talent pool and knowledge base with greater economies of scale. It also stresses our leadership in welding and other joining technologies. We are excited to welcome the Utica employees joining KUKA.”
