BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio, has acquired EASOM Automation Systems Inc. Angle Advisors acted as the exclusive investment banking adviser to EASOM in completing this transaction.
Based in Madison Heights, Mich., EASOM is a full-service turnkey provider of automation systems. The company designs and builds handling systems for large components used in vehicular and aerospace assembly plants, including multi-zone weld systems and cells, robotic transfer units, conveyors, drives and positioning systems. EASOM operates three plants in Michigan including an engineering, sales and technical center also in Madison Heights. EASOM’s systems are used to automate welding, machining, drilling and assembly of extremely heavy, difficult to manipulate components where precision and speed are critical. The company is recognized as a leader in custom- and precision-designed laser welding cells among other large-component applications. EASOM is comprised of approximately 130 skilled and technical employees.
"Our investment in EASOM advances our leadership position in automated welding and cutting," said Christopher Mapes, chairman and CEO of Lincoln. "EASOM is a strong partner for us as our complementary strengths create a compelling offering for our customers and accelerates our market presence in attractive applications."
Reg Kelley, president of EASOM, said, "EASOM Automation began over 30 years ago as a designer of heavy material handling systems. Over this time, the company built a tremendous design library of innovative solutions, patents, techniques and processes for handling and positioning heavy components with high precision. Our equipment can be found in automotive plants the world over, as well as steel mills, ship-building yards, aerospace assembly facilities, agricultural equipment producers and many other heavy-equipment manufacturing operations. My executive partners and I are proud to have built a company whose capabilities and reputation extend well beyond our state and country borders. We selected Angle Advisors after responding to several unsolicited buyer inquiries ourselves, and we could not have made a better choice. In addition to bringing world-class strategic buyers from the U.S., Europe and Asia, Angle’s professionalism and energy resulted in a confidential process that brought outstanding results. We could not have found a better purchaser or steward for our business than Lincoln Electric, and we could not have done it without Angle’s persistence, excellent advice and hard work."
Lincoln Electric Holdings is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Lincoln has 45 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries.
