Piab Group has entered into an agreement to acquire TAWI Group, a manufacturer of smart lifting solutions. Total sales for TAWI is expected to reach 340 MSEK in 2019. The acquisition is expected to be completed in January 2020. The transaction is fully funded with debt through existing credit facilities and cash at hand.

With more than 30 years of history, TAWI adds a solid complementary portfolio of products, skilled employees, a strong network of distributors as well as many new customers to Piab. Through this acquisition, Piab is evolving automation by taking a world leading position in semi-automated lifting products.

“TAWI has a perfect strategic fit to our business. The market for smart and ergonomic lifting solutions is growing rapidly thanks to manual lifting processes being automated,” said Clas Gunneberg, CEO Piab Group. “We foresee very strong growth opportunities with the addition of TAWI’s competitive product portfolio and highly skilled employees, whom I would like to take the opportunity to welcome to the Piab Group.”

“Piab’s long history of innovation in vacuum technology and global market access will allow for TAWI to further strengthen its offer to customers in need of smart and ergonomic lifting solutions,” said Thomas Bräutigam, CEO of TAWI Group. “By joining the Piab Group, TAWI joins an excellent global company, a leading innovator in the vacuum technology market and together we will strengthen our leading position in the semi-automatic lifting market.”

“Increasing well-being is an ever-growing priority for employers around the world,” said David Collins, VP Ergonomic Handling division of Piab Group. “The acquisition of TAWI allows Piab to offer even more solutions to create an effective and safe working environment.”

Piab also manufactures a variety of end of arm tooling products. In June 2019, Piab introduced its piSOFTGRIP tool designed for food industry automation. The vacuum-based soft gripper will grip fragile and lightweight objects of odd geometries and/or an unusual surfaces. Another application is bin picking of small, irregularly shaped objects such as toys.