MUNICH—BBS Automation has acquired systems integrator Kahle Automation, a global supplier of supplier of high-speed automated assembly equipment for medical device manufacturing.
Through the acquisition of Kahle, BBS expects to grow sales in the medical device industry. BBS has offices in Europe, the U.S. and Asia.
With offices in Morristown, NJ, Caravaggio, Italy, and Shenzhen, China, Kahle is led by CEO Federico Ceresetti and president Julie Logothetis. The company caters primarily to the market segments of syringes, catheters and diagnostic devices. The company employs approximately 110 people worldwide.
Kahle marks BBS’ fourth add-on under EQT ownership and follows the acquisition of ANT Solutions, a Polish provider of digital factory solutions in November 2018, TEAM (now BBS Winding), a founder-led Italian specialist for winding technology for electric motors in May 2019, and ReaLead (now BBS Kunshan), an automation solutions provider catering to a diverse range of automation solutions including die casting parts, electric vehicle parts and the 5G telecommunication space, in October 2019.
Kahle will continue to be led by its management team and retain its branding, operating under the name “Kahle—a BBS Co.”
“BBS has a long-standing tradition of serving medical technology clients across Europe, Asia and the Americas,” says Josef Wildgruber, CEO of BBS Automation. “We are extremely excited to partner with Kahle and deliver its patented technology and know-how to BBS’ customers.”