The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Hitachi acquiring JR Automation for $1.43B

By Steve Crowe | April 24, 2019


Hitachi is buying JR Automation, a Holland, Michigan-based industrial robotics integrator, for $1.425 billion. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2019. When the deal closes, Hitachi will acquire all shares in JR Automation held by U.S. private equity fund Crestview Partners.

JR Automation, founded in 1980, designs and builds custom automation equipment and provides services in the automotive, aerospace, medical device, pharmaceutical, food processing and construction industries. JR Automation has about 2,000 employees and had sales of about $600 million in 2018.

Hitachi is looking to tap into JR Automation’s robotics integration expertise and customer base, which will also help Hitachi’s growing internet of things (IoT) business.

“Securing JR Automation’s robotic systems integration business in North America is an important milestone for us,” says Hitachi Executive Vice President Masakazu Aoki. “By providing customers with new value that combines Hitachi’s products, [operational technology], IT, and advanced digital technologies, we will accelerate the global rollout of our Social Innovation Business.”

Hitachi also recently completed the acquisition of KEC Corporation, a Japanese robotic systems integrator. The image below illustrates how Hitachi sees its recent acquisitions working together.

Credit: Hitachi

Growing Hitachi’s IoT business

Hitachi has an IoT platform called Lumada that helps customers turn their workplace data into insights to drive digital innovation. Hitachi has made a string of IoT-related acquisitions in recent years. For example, in December 2018 Hitachi announced it was acquiring 80.1% of ABB’s Power Grids unit for $11 billion. Hitachi plans to close the purchase in the first half of 2020, making Power Grids a consolidated subsidiary. Hitachi has entered into a purchase option to acquire the remaining 19.9% stake in Power Grids and make the business a wholly-owned subsidiary.

“In the manufacturing and logistics fields, there has been a growing demand for automation because of decreased working age populations, intensifying global competition, and further quality improvement requirements to prevent significant product recalls,” Hitachi points out in its announcement of the JR Automation deal. “As a result, the global robot-based automation market continues to expand, with a high average growth rate exceeding 10% per year.”

JR Automation also recently made some acquisitions. In April 2018, JR Automation acquired Setpoint Systems, a Littleton, Colo.-based integrator of building automation solutions and Setpoint, an Ogden, Utah-based amusement park ride designer. And in June 2018, JR Automation acquired fellow industrial robotics integrator ESYS Automation.

Since JR Automation was acquired by Crestview in 2015, it grew from $170 million in sales and five production facilities in North America to more than $600 million in sales and 23 facilities worldwide.

“We are very excited to partner with Hitachi to take this next step in the company’s evolution,” said Bryan Jones, CEO, JR Automation. “With our combined capabilities, Hitachi and JR Automation will be a uniquely qualified global leader in next generation smart manufacturing, and this partnership will enable us to continue to drive tangible value creation for our customers through innovative custom solutions.”

About The Author

Steve Crowe

Steve Crowe is Executive Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media, and chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and RoboBusiness. He is also co-host of The Robot Report Podcast, the top-rated podcast for the robotics industry. He joined WTWH Media in January 2018 after spending four-plus years as Managing Editor of Robotics Trends Media. He can be reached at scrowe@wtwhmedia.com

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

Levita Magnetics MARS surgical robot
Levita Magnetics MARS surgical robot receives expanded FDA clearance
A Voliro drone inspecting a tube for corrosion under insulation.
Voliro brings in $23M to accelerate inspection drone development
Black-I Robotics wins autonomous mobile robot picking challenge
photo of IDS Imaging's GigE uEye LE series cameras.
IDS Imaging adds Sony Starvis 2 sensors to GigE uEye LE series

RBR50 Innovation Awards

“rr
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Robotics Professionals.
The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Episode of The Robot Report Podcast

Automated Warehouse Research Reports

Sponsored Content

  • Sager Electronics and its partners, logos shown here, will exhibit at the 2025 Robotics Summit & Expo. Sager Electronics to exhibit at the Robotics Summit & Expo
  • The Shift in Robotics: How Visual Perception is Separating Winners from the Pack
  • An AutoStore automated storage and retrieval grid. Webinar to provide automated storage and retrieval adoption advice
  • Smaller, tougher devices for evolving demands
  • Modular motors and gearboxes make product development simple
The Robot Report
  • Automated Warehouse
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Business
    • Financial
      • Investments
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Earnings
    • Markets
      • Agriculture
      • Healthcare
      • Logistics
      • Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Security
    • RBR50
      • RBR50 Winners 2025
      • RBR50 Winners 2024
      • RBR50 Winners 2023
      • RBR50 Winners 2022
      • RBR50 Winners 2021
  • Resources
    • Automated Warehouse Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • eBooks
    • Publications
      • Automated Warehouse
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe