It’s official. Stevensville’s JR Automation plant on Red Arrow Highway is now part of Hitachi, Ltd of Tokyo, Japan.
The deal we first shared with you here on Moody on the Market last April for Hitachi, Ltd. to acquire the robotic system integration business mainly operated by JR Automation from funds managed by Crestview Partners is now complete.
In the waning days of 2019, the deal valued at $1.42-billion has come to fruition according to JR Automation Technologies CEO Bryan Jones. The agreement for Hitachi to acquire JR Automation was first announced on April 23, 2019 and the deal achieved successful conclusion last Friday.
JR Automation and Hitachi have been closely engaged throughout the integration process leading to the closing, working together to ensure a seamless transition for all customers, saying that they share common values that will strengthen and accelerate the partnership and help quickly pair JR Automation’s global strengths in robotic system integration with Hitachi’s deep skillsets in artificial intelligence and IoT solutions for manufacturing.
CEO Bryan Jones at JR says, “It’s uplifting to see how closely our two companies are aligned and I’m excited about what the opportunities are going forward,” and adds, “As we look to the future, we see the opportunity that exists in bringing the cyber world to the physical world and integrating Hitachi’s digital solutions into the systems that we produce.” He went on to say, “Our partnership with Hitachi is going to allow us to do considerably more for our customers. However, as excited as we are about our future we also want to be mindful about our past and on behalf of everyone at JR Automation, I would like to thank the team at Crestview and outgoing Chairman Mike DuBose for their outstanding partnership during a period of dramatic global growth and evolution for JR Automation.”
Masakazu Aoki, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer of Hitachi, Ltd., says, “With JR Automation’s robotic system integration capabilities, combined with Hitachi’s digital solutions and technologies, we can provide customers with new, unparalleled value by connecting the whole process. We can now provide our customers with seamless solutions, connecting the entire value chain with data to achieve total optimization.”
Jun Abe, Vice President and Executive Officer, CEO of Industry & Distribution Business Unit of Hitachi, Ltd., says, “Customers in the manufacturing and distribution industries are always thinking about how to speed up their businesses in a diversifying and increasingly sophisticated business environment. Through our partnership with JR Automation, we aim to become the best solution partner for industrial customers worldwide.”
Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, is focusing on Social Innovation Business combining its operational technology, information technology and products. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal 2018 (ended March 31, 2019) totaled 9,480.6 billion yen ($85.4 billion), and the company has approximately 296,000 employees worldwide. Hitachi delivers digital solutions utilizing Lumada in five sectors including Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy and IT, to increase customer’s social, environmental and economic value. For more information on Hitachi, you can visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.
Established in 1980, JR Automation is a leading provider of intelligent automated manufacturing technology solutions that solve customers’ key operational and productivity challenges. JR Automation serves customers across the globe in a variety of industries, including automotive, life sciences, aerospace, and more. JR Automation employs more than 2,000 people at 23 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia, including their plant on Red Arrow Highway in Stevensville. The company says, “Through thoughtful and dynamic collaboration, JR Automation creates innovative manufacturing solutions, helping customers to Think, Solve, and Create.”
