NEWS n 5 US group buys UK’s Sewtec A US-BASED INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GROUP, Automated Industrial Robotics (AIR), is buying the UK company, Sewtec Automation, for an undisclosed sum. Los Angeles based AIR says the acquisition will expand its geographic footprint, strengthen its engineering capabilities and position it to capitalise on the growing global demand for manufacturing automation from a broad range of customers. Sewtec, whose head office is in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, employs more than 170 people and generates annual revenues of more than £30m. The company, founded more than 40 years ago, has a 75,000ft2 (7,000m2) design and manufacturing facility, and operates in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and beverage and e-commerce. It has supplied more than 7,000 automation systems. Sewtec’s founders came from the Singer Sewing Machines R&D department and set up the company in 1983 to manufacture industrial sewing machines for the automotive sector. In 1990, it sold its first robotic system, and in 1999 entered the tobacco market. In 2003, Sewtec sold its first automation system to the pharmaceutical industry, and in 2007 it entered the medical device and pet care markets. In 2017, the private equity firm, Endless, backed a management buyout at Sewtec. Earlier this year, Sewtec started work on a 16,000ft2 (1,500m2) extension to its headquarters at Silkwood Park, which opened just four years before. The new area was needed to extend the company’s test and assembly capacity. Sewtec will join AIR’s existing portfolio which consists of Totally Automated Systems (TA Systems), located in Michigan, US, and Modular Automation (Modular), located in County Clare, Ireland. AIR now has more than 400 employees and a footprint of around 25,500m2 in the US, Ireland and the UK. By leveraging the engineering experience and capabilities of these hubs, AIR is aiming to deliver industrial automation systems and services to global customers. It expects to expand further through strategic acquisitions of other industrial automation companies, as well as continuing to invest in organic growth. In a joint statement, its executive chairman, Brian Klos, and CEO, Darragh de Stonndún, say that“the acquisition of Sewtec represents a significant milestone for AIR. We have long been admirers of the quality of the automation solutions Sewtec has developed for their loyal customer base. We believe that sharing the respective strengths of Sewtec, TA Systems and Modular through AIR will help accelerate our businesses’ abilities to enhance efficiencies, drive technological innovation and deliver industry-leading automation solutions to our partners.” Mark Cook, joint managing director of Sewtec, has been appointed as AIR’s chief operating officer. “This transaction represents an exciting new chapter in Sewtec’s long history,” he says. “I believe AIR is the right partner for Sewtec as we look to grow our business with existing and new customers.” www.drivesncontrols.com September 2024 A UK start-up which claims it can slash the costs of implementing AMR (autonomous mobile robot) and AGV installations in warehouses, has raised £2m in an oversubscribed funding round. London-based Phinxt Robotics has developed a decentralised AI software system that supports robotic automation at any scale. The company will use the new funds to increase its engineering and sales teams and to start expanding into mainland Europe. The global market for mobile robots is predicted to reach $16bn by 2027, with 2.4 million robots in use by then. Phinxt Robotics says that its cloud-based platform is redefining warehouse automation, streamlining robotic deployments and cutting costs via a monthly subscription model. Traditionally, the use of robots in warehouses has been held back by their high setup costs – often more than £500,000 – and the complexity of site deployment. More than 90% of warehouses are still run manually. Phinxt says it is addressing these challenges with its proprietary technology, which coordinates robots at the edge, simplifying deployments. It supports a variety of robots, allowing users to choose the types that they need. The company claims that initial users have been able to double profit margins and quadruple productivity. One of Phinxt’s early customers is a UK grocery retailer which is expected to sign a multi-year contract following a successful pilot. Phinxt’s long-term vision is to extend beyond automating warehouses to delivery drones and autonomous vehicles. Its edge computing technology allows machines to be coordinated in distributed networks. Phinxt was co-founded in 2022 by CEO Yanwen Chen, who has PhDs in computer science and robotic communications, and Quirino Zagarese, an expert in distributed systems. Chen has developed an algorithm that allows robots to self-orchestrate safely, even if they lose connection to a central network. “Our mission is to revolutionise the logistics industry with our cloud-based platform that seamlessly integrates any type of robot, enabling them to collaborate and coordinate in a shared space without needing a centralised server,” Chen explains. “Our robotagnostic platform supports warehouses at every stage of their automation journey, providing unparalleled flexibility. “We aim to be the gateway for the logistics industry, facilitating the integration of these robots into operations and helping businesses achieve a rapid ROI,” she adds. “By accommodating different types of robots, we ensure that warehouses can optimise tasks from picking to transportation, enhancing productivity.” UK start-up raises £2m for cost-cutting warehouse technology Automated Industrial Robotics is acquiring Yorkshire-based Sewtec Automation
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