Adept Technology Inc., einer der weltweit führenden Anbieter und Hersteller von Industrierobotersystemen, übernimmt MobileRobots Inc., einen amerikanischen Anbieter von autonomen mobilen Robotern, mit Sitz in New Hamphire, USA.
"Adept Technology stärkt mit dieser Akquisition die Möglichkeiten, hoch flexible Automationslösungen zu entwickeln und zu vertreiben, um damit die Bedürfnisse und Anforderungen unserer Zielmärkte zu erfüllen", so John Dulchinos, CEO Adept Technology Inc.
Von mobilen Robotern in Krankenhäusern über fahrerlose Transportsysteme in Fabriken und Unternehmen - Anbieter von Automationslösungen und Endkunden haben sich bereits vielfach von den bewährten Lösungen von MobileRobots überzeugen können. Die Fähigkeit, autonome Plattformen in unstrukturierten Umgebungen zu navigieren und global Lösungen für unbegrenzte Flexibilität bereitzustellen, ist ausschlaggebend für den Erfolg von MobileRobots Inc. in verschiedenen Industriezweigen.
"Diese Akquisition ist ein wichtiger Schritt beim Ausbau unseres Produktportfolios, vor allem im Bereich innovativer Automationslösungen für logistische Prozesse. MobileRobots Inc. hat einen exzellenten Ruf im Markt und ist bekannt für seine erstklassigen Produkte. Somit passt dieser Partner hervorragend zu unserem Unternehmen und zur Marke Adept, die ebenfalls für hohe Qualität und Innovation in der Automationstechnik steht", so Joachim Melis, Vice-President Sales & Marketing und Geschäftsführer der deutschen Adept Niederlassung in Dortmund. Der Kauf von MobileRobots ist für Adept ein wichtiger Schritt, sich als innovativer Anbieter von Automationslösungen zu etablieren.
"Die Produkte, Roadmaps und Organisation beider Unternehmen passen ausgezeichnet zusammen. MobileRobots ergänzt mit seinen mobilen Robotern und fahrerlosen Transportsystemen die Dienstleistungen und Produktpalette von Adept Technology", so Jeanne Dietsch, CEO und Mitbegründerin von MobileRobots. Durch die Übernahme erweitert Adept das Angebot im kräftig wachsenden Marktsegment der Automationslösungen.
Q & A Q: Who is Adept Technology, Inc?
Adept Technology, Inc. is a global, leading provider of intelligent visionguided robotics systems and services with annual revenues of $50M. Adept systems provide unmatched performance and economic value throughout the production lifecycle, enabling customers to achieve precision, quality and productivity in their assembly, handling and packaging processes.
Founded in 1983, Adept Technology is the largest U.S.based manufacturer of industrial robots. Adept intelligent automation product lines include industrial robots, configurable linear modules, machine controllers for robot mechanisms and other flexible automation equipment, machine vision, and systems and applications software. Adept provides specialized, costeffective robotics systems and services to highgrowth markets including Packaged Goods, Life Sciences, Disk Drive/Electronics and Semiconductor/Solar; as well as to traditional industrial markets including machine tool automation and automotive components.
Manufacturing its products in Pleasanton, California, Adept markets, distributes, and supports its products worldwide both directly with an employee base of 140 people and through channel partners. Adept's robotics products and services are the solutions of choice for many industryleading corporations. More than 30,000 Adept controlled robots are installed worldwide.
Q: Who is MobileRobots Inc.?
MobileRobots Inc. is a premier robot technology company dedicated to the design and manufacture of autonomous mobile robotic systems. Since 1995 when the Company launched its first Pioneer robot, MobileRobots has grown to be a global leader in the design and manufacture of intelligent mobile bases generating $5M in annualized revenues. MobileRobots provides robot platforms, autonomous navigation systems and software for robot researchers and commercial application developers.
MobileRobots' flexible Motivity guidance and control technologies have revolutionized the way materials and processes are handled in hospitals, labs, offices and factories. Robots using Motivity have logged millions of miles per year at installations ranging from a single robot up to 38robot selfoptimizing fleets. Following its technology roadmap, Motivity continues to evolve with the addition of outdoor autonomy, 3Dclass sensors and other maturing technologies.
Manufacturing its products in Amherst, NH, MobileRobots markets, distributes, and supports its products worldwide both directly with an employee base of 25 people and through OEM partners. MobileRobots has delivered thousands of robots around the globe that are used by leading organizations including Amgen, BAE, Carnegie Mellon, H-P, Hitachi, Intel, John Deere, Microsoft, MIT, SAIC, Siemens, US Army & US Navy. MobileRobots offer robust and reliable solutions boasting millions of miles of productive 24x7 operations in harsh industrial environments.
Q: Why have the companies entered into this arrangement?
The companies have recognized significant business synergies spanning technological roadmaps, market opportunities and corporate cultures. Adept brings strong brand awareness within its served markets including packaged goods, life sciences, disk drive/electronics and semiconductor/solar; as well as to traditional industrial markets such as machine tool automation and automotive components. In these markets it is expected that Adept's infrastructure and sales resources will offer accelerated growth and placement opportunities for the solutions offered by MobileRobots to further develop an estimated $7.62B market. Likewise, MobileRobots bring significant goodwill and excellent branding within the autonomous robotics space. It is expected that Adept's tradition products and services will expand into research, educational and other MobileRobots strongholds. Further, the merging of technologies and services will provide growth opportunities in markets currently underserved by traditional automation industries while systemically garnering a greater share of the industrial market space which was $6.2B for robotic units and $19B for robotic systems in 2008 (IFR Report - World Robotics 2009).
The combined company will hasten industry's migration away from conveyors, which offer little flexibility. Conveyor equipment represented a $6.06B market in 2009 (CEMA Annual Report). Flexible and autonomous production flow utilizing platforms designed by MobileRobots will be adopted at an increased pace to facilitate the mass customization required by consumers. Expansion into new markets will be a critical objective of the acquisition in mid to long term planning. However, traditional markets serviced by each company will receive levels of focus to ensure growth. The large pool of IP amassed by each entity will enable the company to more quickly address the last mile of the digitalphysical divide. Robots in their many manifestations will act as fixed and mobile computing devises where intelligent processing and handling actions are facilitated with decisions made at the point of process though the integration of sensors, information systems and localized computational processing.
The merger will uniquely position the company to begin moving the productivity gains realized through the implementation of robots in manufacturing lines beyond factory walls. The ability to work in unstructured environments amongst people is signaling the next age of automation; coworkerswhere robots increase the productivity of their human coworker as opposed to the previous generation where ROIs were predicated on labor replacement.
Q: What does this mean for existing MobileRobots Inc. customers such as those in research and universities?
MobileRobots existing markets will enjoy increased levels of sales and support coverage by utilizing systems and infrastructure already in place within the Adept organization. MobileRobots' customers can expect continued development of products targeting the research and university communities. Further, Adept's industrial robot and controls portfolio will be made accessible to permit research and teaching to be conducted with industry leading industrial technology.
Sales and technical contacts will continue to be routed as they were previously. Additional resources and support will be implemented to support sales and support outlets to provide industry leading responsiveness and exceptional levels of customer satisfaction. MobileRobots' customers will be afforded the opportunity to work through previously established channels to harness the relationships developed over long periods of time.
Near-Term Growth Opportunities Accretive value will be generated though the expansion of MobileRobots into core Adept businesses and markets. Leveraging long standing customer relationships, Adept will focus MobileRobots solutions to address production logistics which is estimated to be a $1.4B market. This space can be defined by the automation of transference of products to and from production and manufacturing lines.
Example Adept applications and customers appropriate for MobileRobots solutions include:
General Manufacturing
- Adept Applications - assembly, precision processing, high speed handling
- MobileRobots Growth Opportunity - line replenishment, work piece handling (conveyor replacement)
Food Consumer Good Production/Packaging
- Adept Applications - sorting, quality control, high speed handling, packaging
- MobileRobots Growth Opportunity - order fulfillment, product tracking, warehouse logistics
Electronic & Solar Production
- Adept Applications - sorting, handling, assembly, packaging
- MobileRobots Growth Opportunity - line replenishment, rack transport, logistics Additionally, it is expected that Adept products and services will be adopted by markets and customers currently serviced by MobileRobots. While these markets are smaller with a potential of under $2.5M annualized revenue increases to the company, investment to expanding the space represents an annuity as researchers and students gain familiarity with Adept products, controls and software to where Adept will be included in a larger number of consideration sets as these researchers and students migrate into roles of influence relative to capital investment.
Example MobileRobots applications and customers appropriate for Adept solutions include:
Research and Education
- MobileRobots Applications - platform development, autonomous navigation research
- Adept Growth Opportunity - related research and development Industrial/Commercial
- MobileRobots Applications - mobile platform, unstructured transport
- Adept Growth Opportunity - L/UL from autonomous platform (fixed and stationary)
Long-Term Growth Opportunities Hospital Logistics The healthcare industry in the United States, which comprises hospital and allied sectors, is projected to grow 23% per year to reach $77B by 2012 from the current estimated size of $35 billion, according to a Yes Bank and an industry body report published in November 2009. It is estimated that the total serviceable market for the automation of hospital logistics is $0.91B annually. Shifting demographics are creating greater strain on the healthcare industry and the pending shortage of qualified nursing, the market will demand automation and coworkers to simply provide baseline care of elderly patients and increase the productivity of hospice workers.
Value proposition
- Secure, automated delivery of patient samples, medicine, meals and supplies
- Increases productivity of hospital staff, streamlines workflow enables better patient care
- Faster inventory management through automated material handling
- Greater visibility and therefore traceability into medication and supply transfer
Logistics Total material handling equipment industry is a $26.5B market according to Material Handling Industry of America The total available market for MobileRobots, assuming vertical application investment and OEM adoption, is estimated to be approximately 1/50th or $1.54B. The space extends into warehouse and inventory control where the integration to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offers an area for added value creation. Extension of fleet management and production reporting systems could capture a percentage of the estimated $7.4B Manufacturers Operation Software space (AMR Research - Manufacturing Operation Report).
Value proposition
- Redeploy human capital to higher value add functions, lowering labor costs and turnover
- Better, faster inventory management through automated material handling
- Increased productivity and quality
- Greater visibility and therefore traceability for product flow
Conveyance Replacement Market Total conveyor equipment market was a $6.06B market in 2009. The total available market is estimated to be approximately $4.66B. With appropriate vertical application investment and OEM selection, the serviceable market is estimated to be $46M.
Value proposition
- Safe, secure transfer of WIP, minimizing breakage
- Provides greater flexibility to factory floor when compared to the serial nature of traditional conveyor It is fully expected that this agreement will enable both companies to better serve their existing and future clients. For questions about this transaction or either of the companies, please consult with your current sales or investment relations contacts. Further information can be found on Adept Technology and MobileRobots at the following two websites:
www.adept.com - www.mobilerobots.com
"Adept Technology stärkt mit dieser Akquisition die Möglichkeiten, hoch flexible Automationslösungen zu entwickeln und zu vertreiben, um damit die Bedürfnisse und Anforderungen unserer Zielmärkte zu erfüllen", so John Dulchinos, CEO Adept Technology Inc.
Von mobilen Robotern in Krankenhäusern über fahrerlose Transportsysteme in Fabriken und Unternehmen - Anbieter von Automationslösungen und Endkunden haben sich bereits vielfach von den bewährten Lösungen von MobileRobots überzeugen können. Die Fähigkeit, autonome Plattformen in unstrukturierten Umgebungen zu navigieren und global Lösungen für unbegrenzte Flexibilität bereitzustellen, ist ausschlaggebend für den Erfolg von MobileRobots Inc. in verschiedenen Industriezweigen.
"Diese Akquisition ist ein wichtiger Schritt beim Ausbau unseres Produktportfolios, vor allem im Bereich innovativer Automationslösungen für logistische Prozesse. MobileRobots Inc. hat einen exzellenten Ruf im Markt und ist bekannt für seine erstklassigen Produkte. Somit passt dieser Partner hervorragend zu unserem Unternehmen und zur Marke Adept, die ebenfalls für hohe Qualität und Innovation in der Automationstechnik steht", so Joachim Melis, Vice-President Sales & Marketing und Geschäftsführer der deutschen Adept Niederlassung in Dortmund. Der Kauf von MobileRobots ist für Adept ein wichtiger Schritt, sich als innovativer Anbieter von Automationslösungen zu etablieren.
"Die Produkte, Roadmaps und Organisation beider Unternehmen passen ausgezeichnet zusammen. MobileRobots ergänzt mit seinen mobilen Robotern und fahrerlosen Transportsystemen die Dienstleistungen und Produktpalette von Adept Technology", so Jeanne Dietsch, CEO und Mitbegründerin von MobileRobots. Durch die Übernahme erweitert Adept das Angebot im kräftig wachsenden Marktsegment der Automationslösungen.
Q & A Q: Who is Adept Technology, Inc?
Adept Technology, Inc. is a global, leading provider of intelligent visionguided robotics systems and services with annual revenues of $50M. Adept systems provide unmatched performance and economic value throughout the production lifecycle, enabling customers to achieve precision, quality and productivity in their assembly, handling and packaging processes.
Founded in 1983, Adept Technology is the largest U.S.based manufacturer of industrial robots. Adept intelligent automation product lines include industrial robots, configurable linear modules, machine controllers for robot mechanisms and other flexible automation equipment, machine vision, and systems and applications software. Adept provides specialized, costeffective robotics systems and services to highgrowth markets including Packaged Goods, Life Sciences, Disk Drive/Electronics and Semiconductor/Solar; as well as to traditional industrial markets including machine tool automation and automotive components.
Manufacturing its products in Pleasanton, California, Adept markets, distributes, and supports its products worldwide both directly with an employee base of 140 people and through channel partners. Adept's robotics products and services are the solutions of choice for many industryleading corporations. More than 30,000 Adept controlled robots are installed worldwide.
Q: Who is MobileRobots Inc.?
MobileRobots Inc. is a premier robot technology company dedicated to the design and manufacture of autonomous mobile robotic systems. Since 1995 when the Company launched its first Pioneer robot, MobileRobots has grown to be a global leader in the design and manufacture of intelligent mobile bases generating $5M in annualized revenues. MobileRobots provides robot platforms, autonomous navigation systems and software for robot researchers and commercial application developers.
MobileRobots' flexible Motivity guidance and control technologies have revolutionized the way materials and processes are handled in hospitals, labs, offices and factories. Robots using Motivity have logged millions of miles per year at installations ranging from a single robot up to 38robot selfoptimizing fleets. Following its technology roadmap, Motivity continues to evolve with the addition of outdoor autonomy, 3Dclass sensors and other maturing technologies.
Manufacturing its products in Amherst, NH, MobileRobots markets, distributes, and supports its products worldwide both directly with an employee base of 25 people and through OEM partners. MobileRobots has delivered thousands of robots around the globe that are used by leading organizations including Amgen, BAE, Carnegie Mellon, H-P, Hitachi, Intel, John Deere, Microsoft, MIT, SAIC, Siemens, US Army & US Navy. MobileRobots offer robust and reliable solutions boasting millions of miles of productive 24x7 operations in harsh industrial environments.
Q: Why have the companies entered into this arrangement?
The companies have recognized significant business synergies spanning technological roadmaps, market opportunities and corporate cultures. Adept brings strong brand awareness within its served markets including packaged goods, life sciences, disk drive/electronics and semiconductor/solar; as well as to traditional industrial markets such as machine tool automation and automotive components. In these markets it is expected that Adept's infrastructure and sales resources will offer accelerated growth and placement opportunities for the solutions offered by MobileRobots to further develop an estimated $7.62B market. Likewise, MobileRobots bring significant goodwill and excellent branding within the autonomous robotics space. It is expected that Adept's tradition products and services will expand into research, educational and other MobileRobots strongholds. Further, the merging of technologies and services will provide growth opportunities in markets currently underserved by traditional automation industries while systemically garnering a greater share of the industrial market space which was $6.2B for robotic units and $19B for robotic systems in 2008 (IFR Report - World Robotics 2009).
The combined company will hasten industry's migration away from conveyors, which offer little flexibility. Conveyor equipment represented a $6.06B market in 2009 (CEMA Annual Report). Flexible and autonomous production flow utilizing platforms designed by MobileRobots will be adopted at an increased pace to facilitate the mass customization required by consumers. Expansion into new markets will be a critical objective of the acquisition in mid to long term planning. However, traditional markets serviced by each company will receive levels of focus to ensure growth. The large pool of IP amassed by each entity will enable the company to more quickly address the last mile of the digitalphysical divide. Robots in their many manifestations will act as fixed and mobile computing devises where intelligent processing and handling actions are facilitated with decisions made at the point of process though the integration of sensors, information systems and localized computational processing.
The merger will uniquely position the company to begin moving the productivity gains realized through the implementation of robots in manufacturing lines beyond factory walls. The ability to work in unstructured environments amongst people is signaling the next age of automation; coworkerswhere robots increase the productivity of their human coworker as opposed to the previous generation where ROIs were predicated on labor replacement.
Q: What does this mean for existing MobileRobots Inc. customers such as those in research and universities?
MobileRobots existing markets will enjoy increased levels of sales and support coverage by utilizing systems and infrastructure already in place within the Adept organization. MobileRobots' customers can expect continued development of products targeting the research and university communities. Further, Adept's industrial robot and controls portfolio will be made accessible to permit research and teaching to be conducted with industry leading industrial technology.
Sales and technical contacts will continue to be routed as they were previously. Additional resources and support will be implemented to support sales and support outlets to provide industry leading responsiveness and exceptional levels of customer satisfaction. MobileRobots' customers will be afforded the opportunity to work through previously established channels to harness the relationships developed over long periods of time.
Near-Term Growth Opportunities Accretive value will be generated though the expansion of MobileRobots into core Adept businesses and markets. Leveraging long standing customer relationships, Adept will focus MobileRobots solutions to address production logistics which is estimated to be a $1.4B market. This space can be defined by the automation of transference of products to and from production and manufacturing lines.
Example Adept applications and customers appropriate for MobileRobots solutions include:
General Manufacturing
- Adept Applications - assembly, precision processing, high speed handling
- MobileRobots Growth Opportunity - line replenishment, work piece handling (conveyor replacement)
Food Consumer Good Production/Packaging
- Adept Applications - sorting, quality control, high speed handling, packaging
- MobileRobots Growth Opportunity - order fulfillment, product tracking, warehouse logistics
Electronic & Solar Production
- Adept Applications - sorting, handling, assembly, packaging
- MobileRobots Growth Opportunity - line replenishment, rack transport, logistics Additionally, it is expected that Adept products and services will be adopted by markets and customers currently serviced by MobileRobots. While these markets are smaller with a potential of under $2.5M annualized revenue increases to the company, investment to expanding the space represents an annuity as researchers and students gain familiarity with Adept products, controls and software to where Adept will be included in a larger number of consideration sets as these researchers and students migrate into roles of influence relative to capital investment.
Example MobileRobots applications and customers appropriate for Adept solutions include:
Research and Education
- MobileRobots Applications - platform development, autonomous navigation research
- Adept Growth Opportunity - related research and development Industrial/Commercial
- MobileRobots Applications - mobile platform, unstructured transport
- Adept Growth Opportunity - L/UL from autonomous platform (fixed and stationary)
Long-Term Growth Opportunities Hospital Logistics The healthcare industry in the United States, which comprises hospital and allied sectors, is projected to grow 23% per year to reach $77B by 2012 from the current estimated size of $35 billion, according to a Yes Bank and an industry body report published in November 2009. It is estimated that the total serviceable market for the automation of hospital logistics is $0.91B annually. Shifting demographics are creating greater strain on the healthcare industry and the pending shortage of qualified nursing, the market will demand automation and coworkers to simply provide baseline care of elderly patients and increase the productivity of hospice workers.
Value proposition
- Secure, automated delivery of patient samples, medicine, meals and supplies
- Increases productivity of hospital staff, streamlines workflow enables better patient care
- Faster inventory management through automated material handling
- Greater visibility and therefore traceability into medication and supply transfer
Logistics Total material handling equipment industry is a $26.5B market according to Material Handling Industry of America The total available market for MobileRobots, assuming vertical application investment and OEM adoption, is estimated to be approximately 1/50th or $1.54B. The space extends into warehouse and inventory control where the integration to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems offers an area for added value creation. Extension of fleet management and production reporting systems could capture a percentage of the estimated $7.4B Manufacturers Operation Software space (AMR Research - Manufacturing Operation Report).
Value proposition
- Redeploy human capital to higher value add functions, lowering labor costs and turnover
- Better, faster inventory management through automated material handling
- Increased productivity and quality
- Greater visibility and therefore traceability for product flow
Conveyance Replacement Market Total conveyor equipment market was a $6.06B market in 2009. The total available market is estimated to be approximately $4.66B. With appropriate vertical application investment and OEM selection, the serviceable market is estimated to be $46M.
Value proposition
- Safe, secure transfer of WIP, minimizing breakage
- Provides greater flexibility to factory floor when compared to the serial nature of traditional conveyor It is fully expected that this agreement will enable both companies to better serve their existing and future clients. For questions about this transaction or either of the companies, please consult with your current sales or investment relations contacts. Further information can be found on Adept Technology and MobileRobots at the following two websites:
www.adept.com - www.mobilerobots.com
