BBS Automation said it plans to purchase high-speed automation supplier Kahle Automation to expand its medtech and life sciences business.
Kahle will operate as Kahle – a BBS Company, according to a news release from Munich, Germany-based BBS and Lombardy, Italy-based Kahle.
The deal is subject to regulatory approval. Terms were not disclosed.
Kahle’s co-owners — CEO Federico Ceresetti and President Julie Logothetis — will continue to lead the company.
“Partnering with BBS Automation was the logical next step in Kahle’s development,” Ceresetti said in the news release. “With access to BBS’ blue-chip customer base, its global reach and market-leading reputation, BBS will help Kahle take on larger projects and continue its successful growth trajectory. We are very proud to be part of the BBS family and help build out BBS’ global medtech and life sciences franchise.”
Kahle’s Lombardy headquarters will serve as the new global hub for BBS medtech and life sciences activities. BBS also has hubs in Chicago and Kunshan, China.
“BBS has a long-standing tradition of serving medtech clients across Europe, Asia and the Americas,” BBS Automation CEO Josef Wildgruber said in the news release. “We are extremely excited to partner with Kahle and deliver their patented technology and know-how to BBS’ customers. With the addition of Kahle, BBS Automation has a market-leading medtech/life sciences technology portfolio poised for further growth across our global site footprint.”
Kahle’s primary market segments are syringes and needles, liquid dispensing, catheters and diagnostic devices. The company said it has about 110 employees, 73,000 square feet of R&D and production space and at least 210 patents issued.
Over its 100-year history, Kahle said it has built more than 10,000 chassis, with production speeds ranging from 30 parts per minute to 1,400 parts per minute.
BBS was founded in 2013 and was acquired by Swedish investment firm EQT in 2018. BBS now has more than 1,000 employees. Kahle will be the fourth add-on for BSS under EQT’s ownership, following the 2018 acquisition of ANT Solutions and the 2019 acquisitions of TEAM (now BBS Winding) and ReaLead (now BBS Kunshan).