Sligo’s Kaon Automation has been acquired by US-based Automated Industrial Robotics (AIR), for an undisclosed sum.
Michigan-based Automated Industrial Robotics (AIR) has acquired Sligo’s Kaon Automation, an industrial automation company that delivers advanced automation solutions for leading manufacturing companies globally. Financial details of the transaction have not been made public.
Founded in 2005, Kaon delivers bespoke automation solutions for medical and life sciences manufacturers, including building and integrating automated lines for regulated medical applications.
“Joining AIR marks an important new chapter for KAON,” said its co-founders Garreth Finlay and Fergus Hynes. “We have built our business around delivering high-quality automation solutions, and we see strong alignment with AIR around engineering rigor and long-term customer partnerships.
“Becoming part of AIR gives our team new scale and resources to advance our expansion while staying true to the values that have made KAON a trusted automation partner for our clients,” they continued.
AIR is a relatively new company set up by global investment company, Ares Management Corporation in 2023, in response to the increasing demand for manufacturing automation solutions across multiple industries globally. AIR’s mission is to acquire “best-fit companies” with key enabling technologies that will deliver growth in market reach and capacity.
AIR already operates in Ireland having acquired Mullingar’s Robotics & Drives, another industrial automation company focused on delivering innovative solutions through robotics technology, back in October 2024. It acquired Shannon’s Modular Automation in February 2024 – now AIR Shannon.
AIR says its “unified operating model” will now comprise more than 550 employees operating across approximately 450,000 square feet in the United States, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The ongoing investment is supported by private equity firm Are Management Corporation, as AIR continues to pursue a strategy of “organic growth and selective acquisitions to expand its global automation platform”.
“Kaon is a high-quality business with strong technical depth, long-standing customer relationships and a culture that aligns closely with AIR’s values,” AIR executive chairman Brian Klos and CEO Darragh de Stonndún said in a statement.
“Their strengths in precision assembly and liquid filling technologies support our strategy of building a company that can consistently deliver high-quality, scalable solutions in regulated environments.
“This acquisition reflects our continued focus on building a differentiated automation provider that brings together proven teams with deep domain experience, and we are excited to welcome the Kaon team to AIR.”
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